Evidence of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyoctanoate accumulation in transgenic potato lines expressing the Pseudomonas oleovorans Pha-C1 polymerase in the cytoplasm

The phaC1 gene from Pseudomonas oleovorans, coding for the Pha-C1 polymerase, was introduced into the potato genome. Transgenic callus and plant lines which transcribed and translated the transgene were selected and cell suspension cultures from the wild type and transgenic lines were established. The substrate for the Pha-C1 polymerase, 3-(R)-hydroxyoctanoate, was provided to the growth medium. In the transgenic lines, but not in the wild type or in transgenic cell suspension cultures without Pha-C1 expression, evidence of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation ranging from 0.02 to 9.7 mg of polymer per gram of dry weight was observed after feeding in the growth medium the substrate.