Thermophilic bacteria as a source of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Thermophilic bacteria as a source of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Abstract

Thermophilic bacteria are microorganisms capable of growing in extreme conditions, they survive temperatures above 45 °C and can be found in various habitats. These organisms have been studied because of their unique abilities to survive in harsh conditions and they also stand as promising biotechnological producers of various metabolites from thermostable enzymes to biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). One of the advantages of using extremophilic organisms in biotechnological processes is the prevention of possible contamination by mesophilic microorganisms, which results in a reduced requirement for sterilization. In our work, we focused on the morphological study of thermophilic bacteria Schlegelella thermodepolymerans and Thermomonas hydrothermalis using cryo-SEM and also on the evaluation of the amount of PHAs in microbial cells using gas chromatography. For cryo-SEM analysis, bacterial cells were fixed using high pressure freezing method without using any cryo-protectants. Frozen samples were transferred into cryo-vacuum preparation chamber for freeze-fracturing followed by sublimation and then observed in SEM equipped with cryo-stage.

Thermophilic bacteria are microorganisms capable of growing in extreme conditions, they survive temperatures above 45 °C and can be found in various habitats. These organisms have been studied because of their unique abilities to survive in harsh conditions and they also stand as promising biotechnological producers of various metabolites from thermostable enzymes to biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). One of the advantages of using extremophilic organisms in biotechnological processes is the prevention of possible contamination by mesophilic microorganisms, which results in a reduced requirement for sterilization. In our work, we focused on the morphological study of thermophilic bacteria Schlegelella thermodepolymerans and Thermomonas hydrothermalis using cryo-SEM and also on the evaluation of the amount of PHAs in microbial cells using gas chromatography. For cryo-SEM analysis, bacterial cells were fixed using high pressure freezing method without using any cryo-protectants. Frozen samples were transferred into cryo-vacuum preparation chamber for freeze-fracturing followed by sublimation and then observed in SEM equipped with cryo-stage.

PHA, thermophilic bacteria, freeze-fracture, cryo SEM

PHA, thermophilic bacteria, freeze-fracture, cryo SEM

MRÁZOVÁ, K.; HRUBANOVÁ, K.; IKRÉNYIOVÁ, T.; SLANINOVÁ, E.; OBRUČA, S.; KRZYŽÁNEK, V.

2022

22.08.2021

Microscopy Conference 2021: Proceedings

315

316

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