Scientists decode entire genome of biopolymer producing bacterium
The bioeconomy has received another boost: scientists from the University of Göttingen, the University of Münster and of Berlin's Humboldt University have succeeded in sequencing the entire genome of Ralstonia eutropha. This harmless bacterium which thrives in the soil and in cold waters, is used to produce biopolymers, in particular biopolyesters, from renewable biomass.
Bioplastics can be produced via two main routes: the first consists of a process whereby lactic acid is fermented from sugar. After the lactic acid is produced, it is converted to polylactic acid using traditional polymerization processes; the second consists of direct bacterial polyester fermentation. Contrary to the first technique, bacteria use the sugar of biomass to fuel their cellular processes, while they directly produce a polymer as a byproduct. These polymers are then separated from the bacterial cells.
The microorganism used in direct bacterial polyester fermentation is Ralstonia eutropha. It fuels itself with the hydrogen contained in biomass (which it derives from fermenting sugars and starch) and oxygen, and combines the two to form polyesters. The bacterium's genetic patrimonium was found to consist of two chromosomes containing 6116 genes. The precise function of 4000 of these has been identified, making it possible to design new bioproducts:
ethanol :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: genome :: bacterium :: biopolymers :: biomass :: bioeconomy ::
Anne Pohlmann of the Institut für Mikrobiologie, Berliner Humboldt-Universität: "From now on we can look at and into the organism, see which products we can derive from it, and decide which one to produce at any given time."
Because Ralstonia eutropha has such a robust and flexible enzymatic machinery, able to fuel itself on many different carbon and energy sources, it can be used to produce a very broad range of biomolecules, based on the specific sugars and starches it is allowed to feed on:
Researchers from the Humboldt University have found a range of applications that go beyond producing biodegradable plastics: the bacterium can be used to produce alcohols and biohydrogen.
The scientists are now focusing on 53 very interesting genes that could be used to make special polyesters and entirely novel kinds of biomolecules.
More information:
L'Usine Nouvelle: La génétique bactérienne au service des bioplastiques - Oct. 20, 2006
Handelsblatt: Plastik der Zukunft kommt vom Acker - Oct. 6, 2006
Biobasics: Biopolymers and Bioplastics - introduction to the topic.
Research files from the University of Humboldt: Ralstonia eutropha.
Bioplastics can be produced via two main routes: the first consists of a process whereby lactic acid is fermented from sugar. After the lactic acid is produced, it is converted to polylactic acid using traditional polymerization processes; the second consists of direct bacterial polyester fermentation. Contrary to the first technique, bacteria use the sugar of biomass to fuel their cellular processes, while they directly produce a polymer as a byproduct. These polymers are then separated from the bacterial cells.
The microorganism used in direct bacterial polyester fermentation is Ralstonia eutropha. It fuels itself with the hydrogen contained in biomass (which it derives from fermenting sugars and starch) and oxygen, and combines the two to form polyesters. The bacterium's genetic patrimonium was found to consist of two chromosomes containing 6116 genes. The precise function of 4000 of these has been identified, making it possible to design new bioproducts:
ethanol :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: genome :: bacterium :: biopolymers :: biomass :: bioeconomy ::
Anne Pohlmann of the Institut für Mikrobiologie, Berliner Humboldt-Universität: "From now on we can look at and into the organism, see which products we can derive from it, and decide which one to produce at any given time."
Because Ralstonia eutropha has such a robust and flexible enzymatic machinery, able to fuel itself on many different carbon and energy sources, it can be used to produce a very broad range of biomolecules, based on the specific sugars and starches it is allowed to feed on:
Researchers from the Humboldt University have found a range of applications that go beyond producing biodegradable plastics: the bacterium can be used to produce alcohols and biohydrogen.
The scientists are now focusing on 53 very interesting genes that could be used to make special polyesters and entirely novel kinds of biomolecules.
More information:
L'Usine Nouvelle: La génétique bactérienne au service des bioplastiques - Oct. 20, 2006
Handelsblatt: Plastik der Zukunft kommt vom Acker - Oct. 6, 2006
Biobasics: Biopolymers and Bioplastics - introduction to the topic.
Research files from the University of Humboldt: Ralstonia eutropha.
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