Characterization of intracellular inclusions formed by Pseudomonas oleovorans during growth on octane

Abstract

The growth of Pseudomonas oleovorans on n-octane was characterized by the formation of intracellular structures. These inclusions were isolated and characterized. Morphologically, they resembled the poly-p-hydroxybutyrate granules found in Bacillus cereus, as shown by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. The elemental analysis of isolated granules showed, however, that they do not contain poly-4-hydroxybutyric acid. Instead, the analysis was consistent with a C8 polyester, which interpretation was supported by the fatty acid analysis of hydrolyzed granules. From the evidence presented here, we conclude that P. oleovorans forms poly-p-hydroxyoctanoate granules when grown on n-octane. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chemicals. n-Octane (>99% pure) was purchased from J. T. Baker Chemical Co., Phillipsburg, N.J. A standard mixture (4-5436) of fatty acid methyl esters was purchased from Supelco, Inc., Bellefonte, Pa.; stearic methyl ester was purchased from Merck-Schuchardt A. G.; and egg white lysozyme was purchased from Boehringer Mannheim GmbH and Soehne GmbH. Rnase I (EC 3.1.4.22) was purchased from Miles-Seravac Ltd., and DNase I (EC 3.1.4.5) was purchased from Sigma Chemical Co.

The importance of PHB-synthase substrate specificity in polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis by Alcaligenes eutrophus

“…It is clear that the substrate specificity of A. eutrophus PHB-synthase determines the possible PHAs synthesized by this organism. Future examination of the polymerase from an organism such as Pseudomonas oleovorans, that synthesizes PHAs containing different units [19], will therefore make an interesting comparison.…”

Cloning and molecular analysis of the poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoic acid) gene locus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

“…PHA consisting of a wide range of different medium-chainlength 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids were first detected in Pseudomonas oleovorans (De Smet et al, 1983) and later also in other pseudomonas (Haywood et al, 1989;Huisman et al, 1989;Timm and Steinbiichel, 1990). These polyesters are accumulated when the bacteria were cultivated on alkanes or alkanoic acids, and the composition of the polyesters depends on the length of the carbon backbone of the substrate.…”

Thermophilic production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by a novelAneurinibacillusstrain isolated from Gudao oilfield, China

“…Previous reports have shown that A. thermoaerophilus can synthesize many kinds of thermostable enzymes, and we therefore infer that XH2 has a unique thermostable PHA synthesis system. Product 3-hydroxyoctanoate was first detected as a major intracellular inclusion formed by Pseudomonas oleovorans during growth on octane [31]. In the same year 3-hydroxyoctanoate was found as a minor product in Bacillus megaterium [32].…”