Effects of Molecular Structure on Enzymatic Degradation of Polyesters

Abstract

Enzymatic degradation of eleven types of microbial and synthetic polyesters; poly[(R)-3hydroxybutyrate] (1), poly[ (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] ( 2 ), atactic poly[ (R, S)-3-hydroxybutyrate]( 3 ), poly[ (R)-3-hydroxyvalerate] ( 4 ), poly (3-hydroxypropionate) ( 5 ), poly[ (R)2-hydroxypropionate] ( 6 ), poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) ( 7 ), poly(5-hydroxyvalerate) (8 ), poly (6-hydroxyhexanoate) ( 9 ), poly(ethylene adipate) (10) and poly(1, 4-butylene adipate) (11)was investigated at 37 °Cand pH 7.4 in the aqueous solution of extracellular P(3 HB) depolymerase from Alcaligenes faecalis. The rate of enzymatic degradation decreased in the following order; (1)=(5)>(10)>(3)>(4)=(7)>(2)=(6)=(8)=(9)=(11)=0.
The relatio n between the molecular structure and the rate of enzymatic degradation of polyesters has been discussed.