Cloning and sequence analysis of poly(tetramethylene succinate) depolymerase from Acidovorax delafieldii strain BS-3.

A gene encoding poly(tetramethylene succinate), PBS, depolymerase, pbsA, has been cloned from Acidovorax delafieldii strain BS-3 chromosomal DNA. The clone expressed in Escherichia coli showed the ability to degrade both PBS and poly[(tetramethylene succinate)-co-adipate] that are kinds of biodegradable plastics. PBS depolymerase was considered to be a kind of lipase, since it also degrades olive oil.

Purification and properties of culture-broth-secreted esterase from the polyurethane degrader Comamonas acidovorans TB-35.

The polyester-polyurethane (PUR)-degrading bacterium Comamonas acidovorans TB-35 produces two kinds of esterases, one cell-bound esterase (PUR esterase) and the other secreted in the culture broth (CBS esterase). In this study, the CBS esterase and the two recombinant esterases were purified. Identification of the physical and biochemical properties of the CBS and PUR esterases revealed that they have the same polypeptide from one gene.

Isolation and characterization of a bacterium that degrades various polyester-based biodegradable plastics.

Microorganisms isolated from soil samples were screened for their ability to degrade various biodegradable polyester-based plastics. The most active strain, designated as strain TB-13, was selected as the best strain for degrading these plastics. From its phenotypic and genetic characteristics, strain TB-13 was closely related to Paenibacillus amyloyticus.

Properties of a bacterium which degrades solid poly(tetramethylene succinate)-co-adipate, a biodegradable plastic.

Various microorganisms were screened for their ability to degrade poly(tetramethylene succinate)-co-(tetramethylene adipate) (PBSA). Strain BS-3, which was newly isolated from a soil sample, was selected as the best strain. From taxonomical studies, the strain was tentatively ascribed to belong to the genus Acidovorax, most probably to the species A.