The Diversity of Bacteria Isolated from Antarctic Freshwater Reservoirs Possessing the Ability to Produce Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Abstract

The diversity of polyhydroxyalkanoates-pro- ducing bacteria in freshwater reservoirs in the EcologyGlacier foreland, Antarctica, was examined by a cultiva- tion-dependent method. Isolated strains were analyzed phylogenetically by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and clas- sified as members of Alpha-, Beta-, or Gammaproteobac- teria classes. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect PHA synthase genes. Potential polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) producers belonging mainly to Pseudomonas sp., and Janthinobacterium sp. were isolated from all five sampling sites, suggesting that PHA synthesis is a common bacterial feature at pioneer sites. All Pseudomonas strains had the genetic potential to synthesize medium-chain- length PHAs, whereas some isolated Janthinobacterium strains might produce short-chain-length PHAs or medium- chain-length PHAs. It is the first report revealing that Janthinobacterium species could have the potential to produce medium-chain-length PHAs.