Researchers have discovered in the largest continuous salt desert in the world a bacterium, Bacillus megaterium Uyuni S29, which produces and stores poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) - a biodegradable plastic that is used by the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and packaging industries. The researchers were able to successfully make the Bacillus produce significant quantities of PHB in the laboratory using cultivation conditions similar to those used in industry, although not yet at a cost that would be competitive with conventional polymer production. But progress is being made in that regard (likely by manipulating environmental conditions and looking at how to influence gene expression, though the press release doesn’t specify). Oh, and if you are wondering why a bacterium produces a polymer such as PHB, apparently it is because Bacillus uses the biopolymer as a reserve material for times when nutrients are scarce. Press release: bit.ly/16F1Aso
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:28:32 +0000
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