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Review article
PHA Bioplastics, Biochemicals, and Energy from Crops
Article first published online: 7 JAN 2013
DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12039
Plant Biotechnology Journal © 2013 Society for Experimental Biology, Association of Applied Biologists and Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Issue
Plant Biotechnology Journal
Special Issue: Metabolic Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 2, pages 233–252, February 2013
Additional Information
How to Cite
, , (2012) PHA Bioplastics, Biochemicals, and Energy from Crops. Plant Biotechnol. J. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12039
Publication History
- Issue published online: 28 JAN 2013
- Article first published online: 7 JAN 2013
- Manuscript Accepted: 28 NOV 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 21 NOV 2012
- Manuscript Received: 19 AUG 2012
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- polyhydroxyalkanoates;
- polyhydroxybutyrate;
- bioplastics;
- bioenergy crops;
- photosynthesis;
- genetic transformation
Summary
Large scale production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in plants can provide a sustainable supply of bioplastics, biochemicals, and energy from sunlight and atmospheric CO2. PHAs are a class of polymers with various chain lengths that are naturally produced by some microorganisms as storage materials. The properties of these polyesters make them functionally equivalent to many of the petroleum-based plastics that are currently in the market place. However, unlike most petroleum-derived plastics, PHAs can be produced from renewable feedstocks and easily degrade in most biologically active environments. This review highlights research efforts over the last 20 years to engineer the production of PHAs in plants with a focus on polyhydroxybutryrate (PHB) production in bioenergy crops with C4 photosynthesis. PHB has the potential to be a high volume commercial product with uses not only in the plastics and materials markets, but also in renewable chemicals and feed. The major challenges of improving product yield and plant fitness in high biomass yielding C4 crops are discussed in detail.