Polyhydroxyalkanoate analysis inAzospirillum brasilense

Abstract

The considerable industrial interest in the qualitative and quantitative production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in microorganisms has led to the characterization of those synthesized in the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter paspali. In contrast to some other bacterial species, Azospirillum brasilense does not produce copolymers of hydroxyalkanoates when grown under the different carbon sources assayed, namely n-alkanoic acids, hydroxyalkanoates, and sugars with varying C:N ratios. Rather, only homopolymers of polyhydroxybutyrate were detected, comprising up to 70% of the cell dry mass. No copolymers were detected in Azotobacter paspali. Quantitative analyses of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) are also presented.Key words: Azospirillum spp., Azotobacter paspali, polyhydroxyalkanoate analysis, PHA, PHB.