Formation of Poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Sphingobium scionense sp. WP01

The present study is the first report of the conversion of two simple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, biphenyl and naphthalene, into the aliphatic polymer poly-β-hydroxybutyrate by a single bacterium. The bacterium we have identified as Sphing obium scionense sp. WP01^T (=DSM19371^T=ICMP 13533^T) was originally isolated from contaminated soil containing oil residues and Pinus radiata sap and sawdust. We have shown that Sphing obium scionense sp. WP01^T is able to accumulate poly-β-hydroxybutyrate from naphthalene and biphenyl when these are provided as sole carbon sources under nitrogen limited conditions. The generation of PHA from aromatic hydrocarbons as a feedstock provides a route for converting waste polluting hydrocarbons into useable biological polyesters.