Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are accumulated by many bacteria intracellularly as carbon and energy reserves in presence of excess carbon source and limited nitrogen or other nutrient sources. The accumulation pattern of these PHA may vary as the supplements are varied. In this study, Pseudomonas putida SU-8 was allowed to grow in glucose and lactose containing medium, the organism was found to accumulate more PHA when the nitrogen source was limited. The organism was found to accumulate PHA at the early log phase when it was allowed to grow in nitrogen limited medium. The organism did not accumulate PHA when it was limited with phosphate source. It was also found to accumulate homopolymer PHB while growing in either glucose or lactose containing medium.

Key words: Pseudomonas putida SU-8, polyhydroxyalkonoate, polyhydroxybutyrate, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Abbreviation

PHA, Polyhydroxyalkonoate; PHB, polyhydroxybutyrate; FTIR, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy