Directed evolution of polyhydroxyalkanoates producing bacteria

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters which are accumulated in form of intracellular inclusions by numerous prokaryotes. These materials primarily serve as carbon and energy storage; nevertheless, their biological function is far more complex. Generally, presence of PHAs in microbial cells enhances their robustness against various stress factors. Apart from their biological function, PHAs attract attention as ecological alternative to petrochemical plastics which can be biotechnologically produced from waste streams of various industrial processes. The aim of this project is to employ evolutionary engineering and in-depth characterization of evolved strains to understand the role of PHAs in adaptation of bacteria to environmental, anthropogenic and biotechnologically relevant stress factors. Evolved strains will be tested for their potential application in the fields of in-situ bioremediation of organic pollutants and biotechnological production of PHAs from lignocellulose substrates.