Molecular Studies on the Biogenesis of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Related Polyesters

利用生物系统作为一种 可生物降解的热塑性塑料正变得越来越 考虑到相关的环境问题， 处理油基聚合物。 A.真养型H16 和P. oleovorans是生物有机体， 具有感兴趣的聚合物的D-3羟基烷酸酯（PHA） 特性. 这些聚合酶的基因 生物体已经被克隆和测序。 本 建议寻求支持，以制定高级别的方法 聚合酶的表达。 大量的蛋白质 应该有利于聚合酶的分离、表征 他们的底物特异性和详细的研究 反应机理 详细了解生物 聚酯的形成应允许PHA类似物的产生 （聚合物和共聚物）的定义的组成，长度和 功能.

The potential for utilizing biological systems as a source of biodegradable thermoplastics is becoming increasingly attractive in view of the environmental problems associated with the disposal of oil based polymers. A. eutrophus H16 and P. oleovorans are biological organisms that produce poly D-3 hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with interesting polymeric properties. The genes for the polymerases from these organisms have been cloned and sequenced. The present proposal seeks support to develop methods for high level expression of the polymerases. Large amounts of protein should facilitate isolation of polymerases, characterization of their substrate specificities and study of detailed reaction mechanism. A detailed understanding of biological polyester formation should allow generation of PHA analogs (polymers and copolymers) of defined composition, length and functionality.