Patent ID: 6080562
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: C08G,C12P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of producing a microorganism that synthesizes HV/HB copolymer when cultivated on a substrate containing a component, said component being a nutrient from which said microorganism synthesizes both HV and HB monomer units, said method comprising the steps of:a) selecting a microorganism that:i) metabolizes said substrate to acetyl CoA;ii) degrades an amino acid selected from the group consisting of methionine, valine and isoleucine to propionyl CoA;iii) synthesizes HB monomer units when cultivated on said substrate;iv) polymerizes HB monomer units when cultivated on said substrate; andv) does not overproduce said amino acid;b) inducing said microorganism to overproduce said amino acid; andc) isolating said induced microorganism which accumulates HV/HB copolymer.