Factors involved in the regulatory network of polyhydroxyalkanoate metabolism

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bacterial storage materials which are accu mulated by various bacteria under unbalanced growth conditions. Although PH As are produced in larger amounts and are studied because of their plastic material properties, not much is known about the regulation of PHA accumula tion and the regulatory interactions with the general cell metabolism. In t his report, we point out the diversity of regulatory mechanisms involved in PHA metabolism, and present examples for factors acting at the transcripti on or enzymatic level. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.