Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers containing 4-hydroxybutyrate in engineered Bacillus megaterium

Despite being used as a common platform for the commercial production of many biochemicals, Bacilli are often overlooked source industrial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), biodegradable plastic replacements. In addition to having robust expression system, lack lipopolysaccharides and ease lysis make an attractive host PHAs. this work, Bacillus megaterium strain was engineered generate poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutryate) (P[3HB-co-4HB]) copolymers, which among most useful industrially-relevant copolymers. These copolymers had lower modulus increased toughness, thus making copolymer suitable broader range applications. Due high metabolic flux through succinate, B. produced P(3HB-co-4HB) with >10% mol fraction 4HB from glucose, without use highly regulated expensive precursors or potentially damaging truncation central biochemical pathways.