Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters synthesised by prokaryotes as a carbon and energy storage strategy. Due to their properties and versatility, these biopolymers are a potential alternative to conventional low-caliber plastics. However, the cost of the process, particularly the carbon sour...
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Universidade Estadual de Maringá
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Acta Scientiarum: Biological Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciBiolSci/article/view/71881 |
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| author | Monica Alejandra Rodriguez Aristizabal Natalia Conde Martinez Luis Alejandro Acosta González |
| author_facet | Monica Alejandra Rodriguez Aristizabal Natalia Conde Martinez Luis Alejandro Acosta González |
| author_sort | Monica Alejandra Rodriguez Aristizabal |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters synthesised by prokaryotes as a carbon and energy storage strategy. Due to their properties and versatility, these biopolymers are a potential alternative to conventional low-caliber plastics. However, the cost of the process, particularly the carbon sources used as raw materials, limits their large-scale production. The study of new production strains isolated from underexplored sites may be a viable option to improve production capacity. The genes encoding PHA production are organized in the phaCAB operon, with phaC being the key enzyme for polymerization. In this study, we analyzed the environmental distribution of the phaC gene in Archaea using bioinformatic tools to demonstrate the relevance of searching for archaeal strains for PHA production. We searched NCBI for PhaC synthase protein sequences in cultured Archaea and metagenomes. We found 176 sequences of PhaC synthases in cultured Archaea and 66 in metagenomic proteins. Twenty environmental categories were defined based on the associated environmental information. No changes were necessary to ensure grammatical correctness. PhaC genes were found in 41 archaeal genera and 7 possible genus candidates, with Nitrosopumilus sp. being the most abundant genus. The distribution of phaC genes was mainly associated with sediments and marine environments, with less presence in soil niches. These results contribute to the knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and habitats where the phaC gene is present in Archaea with potential for polyhydroxyalkanoate production.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da5f625ee9d74db499ec1ede6178f731 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1679-9283 1807-863X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Estadual de Maringá |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Scientiarum: Biological Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-da5f625ee9d74db499ec1ede6178f7312025-08-20T03:36:19ZengUniversidade Estadual de MaringáActa Scientiarum: Biological Sciences1679-92831807-863X2025-08-0147110.4025/actascibiolsci.v47i1.71881Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain ArchaeaMonica Alejandra Rodriguez Aristizabal0Natalia Conde Martinez1Luis Alejandro Acosta González2Universidad CentralUniversidad de La SabanaUniversidad de la Sabana Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters synthesised by prokaryotes as a carbon and energy storage strategy. Due to their properties and versatility, these biopolymers are a potential alternative to conventional low-caliber plastics. However, the cost of the process, particularly the carbon sources used as raw materials, limits their large-scale production. The study of new production strains isolated from underexplored sites may be a viable option to improve production capacity. The genes encoding PHA production are organized in the phaCAB operon, with phaC being the key enzyme for polymerization. In this study, we analyzed the environmental distribution of the phaC gene in Archaea using bioinformatic tools to demonstrate the relevance of searching for archaeal strains for PHA production. We searched NCBI for PhaC synthase protein sequences in cultured Archaea and metagenomes. We found 176 sequences of PhaC synthases in cultured Archaea and 66 in metagenomic proteins. Twenty environmental categories were defined based on the associated environmental information. No changes were necessary to ensure grammatical correctness. PhaC genes were found in 41 archaeal genera and 7 possible genus candidates, with Nitrosopumilus sp. being the most abundant genus. The distribution of phaC genes was mainly associated with sediments and marine environments, with less presence in soil niches. These results contribute to the knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and habitats where the phaC gene is present in Archaea with potential for polyhydroxyalkanoate production. https://ojs.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciBiolSci/article/view/71881Archaea; phaC; PhaC synthase; extremophiles; bioinformatics; gene diversity. |
| spellingShingle | Monica Alejandra Rodriguez Aristizabal Natalia Conde Martinez Luis Alejandro Acosta González Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea Acta Scientiarum: Biological Sciences Archaea; phaC; PhaC synthase; extremophiles; bioinformatics; gene diversity. |
| title | Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea |
| title_full | Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea |
| title_fullStr | Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea |
| title_short | Environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in the domain Archaea |
| title_sort | environmental distribution of polyhydroxyalkanoate pha production in the domain archaea |
| topic | Archaea; phaC; PhaC synthase; extremophiles; bioinformatics; gene diversity. |
| url | https://ojs.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciBiolSci/article/view/71881 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monicaalejandrarodriguezaristizabal environmentaldistributionofpolyhydroxyalkanoatephaproductioninthedomainarchaea AT nataliacondemartinez environmentaldistributionofpolyhydroxyalkanoatephaproductioninthedomainarchaea AT luisalejandroacostagonzalez environmentaldistributionofpolyhydroxyalkanoatephaproductioninthedomainarchaea |