Poly granule structure

The i-poly(3HB) depolymerase of R. rubrum is the only i-poly(3HB) depolymerase that has been purified [174]. The enzyme consists of one polypeptide of 30-32 kDa and has a pH and temperature optimum of pH 9 and 55 °C, respectively. A specific activity of 4 mmol released 3-hydroxybutyrate/min x mg protein was determined (at 45 °C). The purified enzyme was inactive with denatured poly(3HB) and had no lipase-, protease-, or esterase activity with p-nitro-phenyl fatty acid esters (2-8 carbon atoms). Native poly(3HO) granules were not hydrolyzed by i-poly(3HB) depolymerase, indicating a high substrate specificity similar to extracellular poly(3HB) depolymerases. Recently, the DNA sequence of the i-poly(3HB) depolymerase of R. eutropha was published (AB07612). Surprisingly, the DNA-deduced amino acid sequence (47.3 kDa) did not contain a lipase box fingerprint. A more detailed investigation of the structure and function of bacterial i-poly(HA) depolymerases will be necessary in future. 

The important bacterial storage material poly-hydroxybutyric acid is related metabolically and structurally to the lipids. This highly reduced polymer is made up of D-(3-hydroxybutyric acid units in ester linkage, about 1500 residues being present per chain. The structure is that of a compact right-handed coil with a twofold screw axis and a pitch of 0.60 nm.a Within bacteria it often occurs in thin lamellae 5.0 nm thick. Since a chain of 1500 residues stretches to 440 nm, there must be 88 folds in a single chain. Present in both cytoplasmic granules and in membranes,b polyhydroxybutyrate can account for as much as 50% of the total carbon of some bacterial In E. coli and many other bacteria polyhydroxybutyrate is present in a lower molecular mass form bound to calcium polyphosphates, proteins, or other macromolecules.d e It has also been extracted from bovine serum albumin and may be ubiquitous in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.d/e The polymer may function in formation of Ca2+ channels in membranes.b/d... 

Porosity is a desirable characteristic of the particles in many applications of poly(vinyl chloride). If the product is to be used as a dry-blend resin, it is required to soak up substantial quantities of liquid plasticizers and still remain free-flowing. The structure and porosity of PVC granules is affected strongly by the choice of organic suspending agents, which are different types of partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol). The required porosity is enhanced also by rapidly... 

Jensen, T.E. and Sicko, L.M. (1971) Fine structure of poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid granules in a blue-greenalga, Chlorogloea fritschii. J. Bacteriol, 106, 683 -686. 

Lundgren, D.G., Pfister, R.M, and Merrick, J.M. (1964) Structure of poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid granules. /. 

Kawaguchi, Y. and Doi, Y. (1990). Structure of native poly(3- hydroxybutyiate) granules characterized by X-iay dififiaction. FEMS Mircobiol-ogy Letter 70, 151-156. 

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