Polyhydroxyalkanoate and method of producing same, and ω-(2-thienylsulfanyl) alkanoic acid and method of producing same

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) as a new type of polyester. The present invention also relates to a method of producing the PHA using a microorganism capable of producing the PHA and accumulating the PHA in its body. The present invention also relates to a compound suitably used for the culture of the microorganism.

#2. Related Background Art

#FIG. 1 shows a former part (1/2) of a detailed flowchart for synthesis of 5-(2-thienylsulfanyl)valeric acid in Example 1;

#FIG. 2 shows a latter part (2/2) of the detailed flowchart for synthesis of 5-(2-thienylsulfanyl)valeric acid in Example 1;

#FIG. 3 shows a 1H-NMR spectrum of 5-(2-thienylsulfanyl)valeric acid obtained in Example 1;

#Microorganisms for use in the present invention and processes for culturing the same will be described below.

#The microorganism for use in the method of the present invention may be any microorganism that may be cultured in a medium containing ω-(2-thienylsulfanyl)alkanoic acid represented by Chemical Formula [3] to produce a polyhydroxy-alkanoate containing a unit represented by Chemical Formula [1], but one example thereof is microorganisms belonging to the Pseudomonas sp. More specifically, those microorganisms include Pseudomonas cichorii YN2, FERM BP-7375; Pseudomonas cichorii H45, FERM BP-7374; and Pseudomonas jessenii P161, FERM BP-7376. These three types of microorganisms are deposited at International Patent Organism Depositary (IPOD) in National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-178484.

#There will be given details concerning strains YN2, H45 and P161.