Synthesis of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-Co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) from Methanol and n-Amyl Alcohol by the Methylotrophic Bacteria Paracoccus denitrificans and Methylobacterium extorquens.

Strains of two types of methylotrophic bacteria, Paracoccus denitrificans and Methylobacterium extorquens, synthesized the copolyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) when methanol and n-amyl alcohol were added together to nitrogen-limited medium. The composition of the copolyester differed considerably between the two strains: the copolyester from P. denitrificans was comparatively rich in 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV). The 3HV content of the copolyester synthesized by this strain increased with increasing concentrations of n-amyl alcohol. Its maximum content was 91.5 mol% under the conditions used. In M. extorquens, the maximum 3HV content was limited to 38.2 mol%. Since n-amyl alcohol served as a substrate for a standard methanol dehydrogenase, the enzyme was proposed to oxidize both methanol and n-amyl alcohol in the first step of copolyester synthesis from these substrates by methanol-grown cells.