PRODUCTION OF POLY-3-HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID

摘要

PURPOSE:To efficiently obtain poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid useful as a medical material, etc., having excellent biodegradability in a high yield without fear of contamination with various germs by continuously culturing a specific methanol assimilating bacterium under a specific condition while restricting the feeding rate of nitrogen. CONSTITUTION:A methanol assimilating bacterium such as Protomonas extorquens K (FERM-BP-3,548) capable of producing poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid is continuously cultured in a single culture tank using methanol as a carbon source under an aerobic condition while restricting the feeding rate of nitrogen to make an average retention time >=15 hours and poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid is synthesized and accumulated in the cells and is collected from the cells to provide the objective poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid.