Abstract

SANCHEZ MORENO, Silvia Alexandra; MARIN MONTOYA, Mauricio Alejandro; MORA MARTINEZ, Amanda Lucía  and  YEPES PEREZ, María del Socorro. Identification of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria in soils contaminated with fique wastes. Rev. colomb. biotecnol [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.2, pp.89-100. ISSN 0123-3475.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable biopolymers of bacterial origin with properties similar to conventional plastics. In this work, bacteria were isolated from soils contaminated with fique wastes in the municipality of Guarne (Antioquia) and their ability to produce PHAs was evaluated. Bacteria were stained with Nile blue and Nile red and the PhaC gene detected by PCR. Positive bacteria were identified by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and biochemical tests. The chemical nature of the biopolimers was determined by gas chromatography GC-MS/SIM using biomass produced in a submerged fermentation in a minimal media supplemented with glucose as sole carbon source. Four bacterial morphotypes identified as Bacillus megaterium (2), B. mycoides (1) and Gordonia sp. (1) showed potential to produce PHAs. However, the PhaC gene was detected in B. megaterium. Chromatographic analysis showed polyhydroxybutirate (PHB) to be the main component in the PHAs produced by B. megaterium with levels between 63.8 mg/g and 95.3 mg/g in the fermentation test. The isolated bacteria have potential to produce PHAs, generating added value to the Agro-industrial waste, as in the fique industry, and reducing its contamination impact.

Keywords : 16S DNAr; Bacillus; biopolymer; Furcraea bedinghausii; PhaC.

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