Isolation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism genes from complex microbial communities by phenotypic complementation of bacterial mutants.

ABSTRACT: The goal of this study was to initiate investigation of the genetics of bacterial poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) metabolism at the community level. We constructed metagenome libraries from activated sludge and soil microbial communities in the broad-host-range IncP cosmid pRK7813. Several unique clones were isolated from these libraries by functional heterologous complementation of a Sinorhizobium meliloti bdhA mutant, which is unable to grow on the PHB cycle intermediate D-3-hydroxybutyrate due to absence of the enzyme D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity. Clones that conferred D-3-hydroxybutyrate utilization on Escherichia coli were also isolated. Although many of the S. meliloti bdhA mutant complementing clones restored D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity to the mutant host,

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1352230 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature