Ralstonia eutropha H16 degraded (mobilized) previously accumulated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in the absence of an exogenous carbon source and used the degradation products for growth and survival. Isolated native PHB granules of mobilized R. eutropha cells released 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) at a threefold higher rate than did control granules of nonmobilized bacteria. No 3HB was released by n...

A transhydrogenase that catalyzes the oxoacid-dependent oxidation of specific hydroxyacids has been found in rat kidney, liver, and brain. The hydroxyacids that have been found to be substrates for this enzyme are gamma-hydroxybutyrate, D-alpha-hydroxyglutarate, and L-beta-hydroxybutyrate. The oxoacids that are the best substrates for this enzyme are alpha-ketoglutarate and succinic semialdehyd...

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a biogenic polymer that has the potential to substitute synthetic plastic in numerous applications. This due its unique attribute of being biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic, achievable through microbial fermentation from broad utilizable range renewable resources. Among all PHAs discovered, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] st...

Batch culture of Ralstonia eutropha using the recycled gas closed circuit culture system was conducted in order to develop a practical fermentation system for industrial autotrophic culture for poly (hydroxybutrate) production. The gas phase of the culture system consisted of substrate gas so that gases in this culture could be recycled as long as the amount of the gas consumed would be repleni...