Isolation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-degrading microorganisms and characterization of PHB-depolymerase from Arthrobacter sp. strain W6.

Microbial degraders of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were isolated from soil. Arthrobacter sp. strain W6 used not only PHB as a carbon source, but also PHAs such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-5%]3-hydroxyvalerate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-14%]3-hydroxyvalerate), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-22%]3-hydroxyvalerate). PHB-depolymerase was purified to homogeneity from the culture broth of Arthrobacter sp. strain W6 by a procedure involving DEAE- and butyl-Toyopearl column chromatographies. The Mr of the enzyme was estimated to be about 47,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 and 50 degrees C, and was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, Hg2+, Ag+, and Pb2+.