Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) Biosynthesis from Crude Alaskan Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) Oil

Six strains of Pseudomonas were tested for their abilities to synthesize poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) polymers from crude Pollock oil, a large volume byproduct of the Alaskan fishing industry. All six strains were found to produce PHA polymers from hydrolyzed Pollock oil with productivities (P; the percent of the cell mass that is polymer) ranging from 6 to 53% of the cell dry weight (CDW). Two strains, P. oleovorans NRRL B-778 (P = 27%) and P. oleovorans NRRL B-14682 (P = 6%), synthesized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with number average molecular weights (M n ) of 206,000 g/mol and 195,000 g/mol, respectively. Four strains, P. oleovorans NRRL B-14683 (P = 52%), P. resinovorans NRRL B-2649 (P = 53%), P. corrugata 388 (P = 43%), and P. putida KT2442 (P = 39%), synthesized medium-chain-length PHA ( mcl -PHA) polymers with M n values ranging from 84,000 g/mol to 153,000 g/mol. All mcl -PHA polymers were primarily composed of 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid (C 8:0 ) and 3-hydroxydecanoic acid (C 10:0 ) amounting to at least 75% of the total monomers present. Unsaturated monomers were also present in the mcl- PHA polymers at concentrations between 13% and 16%, providing loci for polymer derivatization and/or crosslinking.