IMPROVED ACCUMULATION OF POLY-3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE BY A RECOMBINANT CYANOBACTERIUM

Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 was transformed with genes encoding poly-3-h ydroxybutyrate(PHB)-synthesizing enzymes from Alcaligenes eutrophus by using a new plasmid vector. Under photoautotrophic and nitrogen-starv ed conditions, PHB content of the transformant was improved by CO2-enr ichment in sparging. Supplement of acetate under nitrogen-starvation e nhanced its PHB content by more than 25%. The mol wt and distribution of PHB from the cyanobacterial transformant were similar to those by E scherichia coli transformant with the same genes as described above.