Poly-beta -hydroxybutyrate (PHB) formation under aerobic conditions via inc
orporation of [C-13-2]acetate as a cosubstrate and its intracellular degrad
ation under anaerobic conditions in a Type II methanotroph was studied by C
-13 NMR. During PHB synthesis in the presence of labelled acetate, low leve
ls of beta -hydroxybutyrate, butyrate, acetone, isopropanol, 2,3-butanediol
and succinate were observed. Subsequent anaerobic PHB breakdown showed enh
anced levels of these products at the expense of PHB. Fermentative metaboli
sm occurring during anaerobic pHD degradation was confirmed in experiments
with fully C-13-enriched cells, which were grown on C-13-labelled methane.
beta -hydroxybutyrate, butyrate, acetate, acetone, isopropanol, 2,3-butaned
iol and succinate were detected as multiple C-13-labelled compounds in the
culture medium. Our results suggest that intracellular PHB degradation can
be used as a reserve energy source by methanotrophs under anoxic conditions
.