Production of polyesters by extremophilic bacteria

This bachelor thesis deals with the study of the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using thermophilic bacterial strains Schlegelella thermodepolymerans, Schlegelella aquatica and Thermomonas hydrothermalis. The aim of the thesis is to optimize the conditions of polymer production. In bacterial strains of the genus Schlegelella, phaC gene at the genotype level was confirmed. The ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates in the bacterial strain Thermomonas hydrothermalis at the phenotype level was demonstrated. The utilization of selected carbon sources was studied experimentaly. The production of PHA was optimized by selecting the appropriate substrate and cultivation temperature. The effect of precursors on the production of copolymers P(3HB-co-4HB) and P(3HB-co-3HV) was observed. The most promising carbon substrate for bacterial strain Schlegelella aquatica was glycerol while the best metabolic activity was at 45 °C. Strain Thermomonas hydrothermalis was able to produce the copolymer P(3HB-co-4HB) with extreme high molar fraction of 4HB. Optimal cultivation temperature was 55 °C. The highest yield of P(3HB) among selected bacteria, synthesized Schlegelella thermodepolymerans cultivated on xylose at 55 °C. For this strain, the effect of aeration on biomass growth and PHA production was observed. In an effort to reduce production costs, Schlegelella thermodepolymerans was cultivated on model hydrolysates of lignocellulose-rich materials. Finally, batch cultivation in a larger production volume in laboratory fermentor was performed