The bacteria was found not only to be able to utilize plant oils
but also was capable of producing a random terpolymer. A recombinant
strain of Cupriavidus necator harboring A. caviae PHA
synthase gene,was shown to accumulate 79% of P(3HB-co-3HV-co-
3HHx) terpolymer grown on crude palm kernel oil. The 3HV molar
fraction, ranged from 2 to 60 mol%, was controlled by the feeding
time and concentrations of sodium valerate or sodium propionate
as the precursors (Bhubalan et al., 2008). In the separate study,
Tsuge et al. (2009) have also observed the successful production of
another terpolymer (3HB-co-3HO-co-3HD) by Ralstonia eutropha
harboring the wild-type Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 PHA synthase 1
grown on soybean oil. The extracted PHA consisted of 91 mol% 3HB,
5 mol% 3HO and 4 mol% 3HD.