Abstract
The Pseudomonas sp. strain phDV1 was found to utilize monocyclic aromatic compounds as a sole carbon source and has a variety of potential applications in the bioremediation and biosynthesis of biodegradable plastics. It was possible to produce polyhydroxybutyrate when cultivated in the presence of monocyclic aromatic compounds as the sole carbon source. This study provides the small-scale optimization for phenol bioremediation and polyhydroxybutyrate production. The bacterium was cultivated in minimal medium supplemented with different concentrations of phenol. The formation and localization of the polyhydroxybutyrate granules (carbonosomes) in the cell were determined after 72 h of cultivation using Nile Red stain in combination with fluorescence microscopy. Analytical HPLC was also used to quantify the PHB content in the cells and to optimize the production. Finally, comparative proteomic analysis of isolated carbonosomes was used to characterize of their protein composition.