Yield of poly-D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate from various carbon sources: a theoretical study.

The theoretical yield of poly-D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) has been estimated from the biochemical pathway leading to PHB when a carbohydrate (glucose), a C(1) compound (methanol), a C(2) compound (acetic acid), or a C(4) compound (butyric acid) is used as a carbon source. In estimating the yield, recycling (or regeneration) of NADP(+)/ (NADPH + H(+)) and NAD(+) /(NADH + H(+)) have been taken into account. A special emphasis is made on te regeneration of NADPH, which is the coenzyme of acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, one of three key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of PHB. As a NADPH-regenerating enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or isocitrate dehydrogenase is conceived. An equation which predicts the overall yield of PHB when non-PHB residual biomass is actually formed has been derived as a function of both the theoretical yield and PHB content of the dry cell mass. The ratio of the overall yield to the theoretical yield is roughly proportional to the PHB content.