Quantum modeling simulates nutrient effect of bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in Pseudomonas putida.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) could be used to make sustainable, biodegradable plastics. However, the precise and accurate mechanistic modeling of PHA biosynthesis, especially medium-chain-length PHA (mcl-PHA), for yield improvement remains a challenge to biology. PHA biosynthesis is typically triggered by nitrogen limitation and tends to peak at an optimal carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio.