DIVERSITY OF BACTERIAL POLYHYDROXYALKANOIC ACIDS

An overview is provided on the diversity of biosynthetic polyhydroxyal kanoic acids, and all hitherto known constituents of these microbial s torage compounds are listed. The occurrence of 91 different hydroxyalk anoic acids reflects the low substrate specificity of polyhydroxyalkan oic acid synthases which are the key enzymes of polyhydroxyalkanoic ac id biosynthesis. In addition, the importance of bacterial anabolism an d catabolism, which provide the coenzyme A thioesters of the respectiv e hydroxyalkanoic acids as substrates to these PHA synthases, is empha sized.