Polyhydroxyalkanoates Production in Transgenic Plants

Abstract

In the present time, polyhydroxyalkanoates have established themselve as the alternatives of petroleum-based synthetic polymers due to their biodegradability and eco-friendly nature. In the last two decades, several scientists have engaged in search of cost-effective alternatives of producing PHA at larger scale. Therefore, many plant species have been genetically engineered for this purpose. The major obstacles in producing PHA polymers in transgenic plants are the regulation of the appropriate monomer's composition and ratio synthesized in their cells. Efforts are on the way to encounter these difficulties as soon as possible. The research is also going on to enhance the production and accumulation of these biopolymers in transgenic plants. Among the targeted cell organelles, plastids have been considered as the best sites for higher production of polyhydroxyalkanoates at cheaper costs because of its maternal inheritance and its being unaffected by gene silencing. Polyhydroxyalkanoates production technologies are still costly, but these could be cost effective in the near future.