Pseudomonas Species as Producers of Eco-friendly Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been produced by various bacteria as natural polymers stored in bacterial cells as a source of carbon and energy. They are currently preferred biomaterials for use in many industrial fields instead of conventional non-degradable plastics. Due to their unique properties they can reduce pollution caused by the increasing global polymer demand. Pseudomonas species have been chosen as PHAs producers in many recent studies. Being metabolically versatile and possessing a remarkable tolerance to a wide range of carbon sources, these bacteria have become an efficient cell factory for PHAs production. Currently, attention is focused on the design of Pseudomonas strains to increase their ability to accumulate PHAs in the cell and modifying their biosynthetic pathways to obtain strains with modified compositions and improved properties. This article discusses the current state of knowledge of polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesized by Pseudomonas species which are industrially important microorganisms. This review provides an overview of recent trends towards PHA production, focusing on the utilization of low-cost carbon sources, fermentation strategies, PHAs properties and their uses as valuable bioproducts.