Utilization of various carbon sources for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] production by Cobetia sp. IU180733JP01 (5-11-6-3) which is capable of producing P(3HB) from alginate and waste seaweed

Abstract

The marine bacterium Cobetia sp. IU180733JP01 (5-11-6-3) can accumulate poly(3- hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] during cultivation on alginate or waste Laminaria sp. Here, we examined this strain’s ability to utilize various carbon sources for P(3HB) production. When cultured in mineral salt medium containing 1% (w/v) glucose, fructose, glycerol, or gluconic acid, the strain showed better growth and higher P(3HB) production than on alginate, with fructose enabling the highest P(3HB) yield (0.8 ± 0.06 g/L). We also predicted metabolic pathways for P(3HB) synthesis based on draft genome sequence analysis, in which carbon sources are assimilated through Entner–Doudoroff and Embden–Meyerhof pathways, and the resultant acetyl-CoA is converted into P(3HB). Our findings reveal the potential of the 5-11-6-3 strain for application in bioplastic production from not only marine biomass but also other biomass and industrial wastes.