A PCR Based Assay for Bioplastic Production from

A PCR Based Assay for Bioplastic Production from Cyanobacteria Kelly R. O’Quinn Courtney E. Lane Michael G. Benton Cain Department of Chemical Engineering Louisiana State University 1

Traditional Plastics • • Petroleum-based Cheap Disposable Non-sustainable http: //www. todayifoundout. com/index. php/2010/09/where-the-word-plasticcame-from/ http: //www. proactiveinvestors. co. uk/companies/market_reports/59052/oil-gas-market-wrap 2

Bioplastics • Made from living organisms • Similar mechanical properties to polypropylene http: //www. treehugger. com/corporate-responsibility/the-greeningof-the-capitol-very-efficient-food-service. html http: //www. packaging-int. com/article/ingeo-joinseuropean-bioplastics-conference-for-the-thirdedition-november-5 th 6 th-berlin-germany. html 3

Cyanobacteria • Carbon-neutral • Sustainable • Some produce biopolymers CO 2 Biopolymers http: //sercblog. si. edu/? p=2047 4

Problems • Biopolymer yield low • Some species non-biopolymer producing • Potentially a million species http: //www. polyfermcanada. com/pha. htm http: //aem. asm. org/content/67/4/1902/F 1. expansion. html 5

PCR • Polymerase Chain Reaction • Amplify gene if present • Shows if gene present by band PCR Amplify DNA http: //sercblog. si. edu/? p=2047 Cyanobacteria Isolate DNA Detect http: //www. ichromatography. com/thi n-layer-chromatography-used-indna-aging-research. html Gene 6

Results A B C Lane, O’Quinn, and Benton. Unpublished. 7

Results Species Biopolymer Producers Band Present A B C D E + + ? ? + + + - 8

Acknowledgements • CMEDS 9