Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by from Steroidal Endocrine Disruptors.

The α-proteobacterium can use estrogens and androgens as the sole carbon source. These compounds are steroidal endocrine disruptors that are found contaminating soil and aquatic ecosystems. Here, we show that , which has been considered as a valuable biocatalyst for aerobic steroidal hormone decontamination, is also able to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters of increasing biotechnological interest as a sustainable alternative to classical oil-derived polymers. Steroid catabolism yields a significant amount of propionyl-CoA that is metabolically directed towards PHA production through condensation into 3-ketovaleryl-CoA, rendering a PHA rich in 3-hydroxyvalerate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where PHAs are produced from steroids as carbon sources.