Development of a high-level gene expression system for the production of bioplastics in sugarcane

Despite various approaches, the production of biodegradable plastics such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in transgenic plants has met with limited success due largely to low expression levels. Even in the few instances where high levels of protein expression have been reported, the transgenic plants have been stunted indicating PHB is phytotoxic (Poirier 2002). This PhD describes the application of a novel virus-based gene expression technology, termed InPAct („In Plant Activation.), for the production of PHB in tobacco and sugarcane. InPAct is based on the rolling circle replication mechanism by which circular ssDNA viruses replicate and provides a system for controlled, high-level gene expression. Based on these features, InPAct was thought to represent an ideal system to enable the controlled, high-level expression of the three phb genes (phbA, phbB and phbC) required for PHB production in sugarcane at a preferred stage of plant growth. A Tobacco yellow dwarf virus (TbYDV)-based InPAct-phbA vector, as well as linear vectors constitutively expressing phbB and phbC were constructed and different combinations were used to transform tobacco leaf discs. A total of four, eight, three and three phenotypically normal tobacco lines were generated from discs transformed with InPAct-phbA, InPAct-phbA + p1300-TaBV P-phbB/phbC- 35S T, p1300-35S P-phbA-NOS T + p1300-TaBV P-phbB/phbC-35S T and InPAct-GUS, respectively. To determine whether the InPAct cassette could be activated in the presence of the TbYDV Rep, leaf samples from the eight InPActphbA + p1300-TaBV P-phbB/phbC-35S T plants were agroinfiltrated with p1300- TbYDV-Rep/RepA. Three days later, successful activation was indicated by the detection of episomes using both PCR and Southern analysis. Leaf discs from the eight InPAct-phbA + p1300-TaBV P-phbB/phbC-35S T transgenic plant lines were agroinfiltrated with p1300-TbYDV-Rep/RepA and leaf tissue was collected ten days post-infiltration and examined for the presence of PHB granules. Confocal microscopy and TEM revealed the presence of typical PHB granules in five of the eight lines, thus demonstrating the functionality of InPActbased PHB production in tobacco. However, analysis of leaf extracts by HPLC failed to detect the presence of PHB suggesting only very low level expression levels. Subsequent molecular analysis of three lines revealed low levels of correctly processed mRNA from the catalase intron contained within the InPAct cassette and also the presence of cryptic splice sites within the intron. In an attempt to increase expression levels, new InPAct-phb cassettes were generated in which the castorbean catalase intron was replaced with a synthetic intron (syntron). Further, in an attempt to both increase and better control Rep/RepA-mediated activation of InPAct cassettes, Rep/RepA expression was placed under the control of a stably integrated alc switch. Leaf discs from a transgenic tobacco line (Alc ML) containing 35S P-AlcR-AlcA P-Rep/RepA were supertransformed with InPAct-phbAsyn or InPAct-GUSsyn using Agrobacterium and three plants (lines) were regenerated for each construct. Analysis of the RNA processing of the InPAct-phbAsyn cassette revealed highly efficient and correct splicing of the syntron, thus supporting its inclusion within the InPAct system. To determine the efficiency of the alc switch to activate InPAct, leaf material from the three Alc ML + InPAct-phbAsyn lines was either agroinfiltrated with 35S P-Rep/RepA or treated with ethanol. Unexpectedly, episomes were detected not only in the infiltrated and ethanol treated samples, but also in non-treated samples. Subsequent analysis of transgenic Alc ML + InPAct-GUS lines, confirmed that the alc switch was leaky in tissue culture. Although this was shown to be reversible once plants were removed from the tissue culture environment, it made the regeneration of Alc ML + InPAct-phbsyn plant lines extremely difficult, due to unintentional Rep expression and therefore high levels of phb expression and phytotoxic PHB production. Two Alc ML + InPAct-phbAsyn + p1300-TaBV P-phbB/phbC-35S T transgenic lines were able to be regenerated, and these were acclimatised, alcohol-treated and analysed. Although episome formation was detected as late as 21 days post activation, no PHB was detected in the leaves of any plants using either microscopy or HPLC, suggesting the presence of a corrupt InPAct-phbA cassette in both lines. The final component of this thesis involved the application of both the alc switch and the InPAct systems to sugarcane in an attempt to produce PHB. Initial experiments using transgenic Alc ML + InPAct-GUS lines indicated that the alc system was not functional in sugarcane under the conditions tested. The functionality of the InPAct system, independent of the alc gene switch, was subsequently examined by bombarding the 35S Rep/RepA cassette into leaf and immature leaf whorl cells derived from InPAct-GUS transgenic sugarcane plants. No GUS expression was observed in leaf tissue, whereas weak and irregular GUS expression was observed in immature leaf whorl tissue derived from two InPAct- GUS lines and two InPAct-GUS + 35S P-AlcR-AlcA P-GUS lines. The most plausible reason to explain the inconsistent and low levels of GUS expression in leaf whorls is a combination of low numbers of sugarcane cells in the DNA replication-conducive S-phase and the irregular and random nature of sugarcane cells bombarded with Rep/RepA. This study details the first report to develop a TbYDV-based InPAct system under control of the alc switch to produce PHB in tobacco and sugarcane. Despite the inability to detect quantifiable levels of PHB levels in either tobacco or sugarcane, the findings of this study should nevertheless assist in the further development of both the InPAct system and the alc system, particularly for sugarcane and ultimately lead to an ethanol-inducible InPAct gene expression system for the production of bioplastics and other proteins of commercial value in plants.

Properties of lignin and poly(hydroxybutyrate) blends

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) allows the presentation of a thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the format of published or submitted papers, where such papers have been published, accepted or submitted during the period of candidature. This thesis is composed of Seven published/submitted papers and one poster presentation, of which five have been published and the other two are under review. This project is financially supported by the QUTPRA Grant. The twenty-first century started with the resurrection of lignocellulosic biomass as a potential substitute for petrochemicals. Petrochemicals, which enjoyed the sustainable economic growth during the past century, have begun to reach or have reached their peak. The world energy situation is complicated by political uncertainty and by the environmental impact associated with petrochemical import and usage. In particular, greenhouse gasses and toxic emissions produced by petrochemicals have been implicated as a significant cause of climate changes. Lignocellulosic biomass (e.g. sugarcane biomass and bagasse), which potentially enjoys a more abundant, widely distributed, and cost-effective resource base, can play an indispensible role in the paradigm transition from fossil-based to carbohydrate-based economy. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB has attracted much commercial interest as a plastic and biodegradable material because some its physical properties are similar to those of polypropylene (PP), even though the two polymers have quite different chemical structures. PHB exhibits a high degree of crystallinity, has a high melting point of approximately 180°C, and most importantly, unlike PP, PHB is rapidly biodegradable. Two major factors which currently inhibit the widespread use of PHB are its high cost and poor mechanical properties. The production costs of PHB are significantly higher than for plastics produced from petrochemical resources (e.g. PP costs $US1 kg-1, whereas PHB costs $US8 kg-1), and its stiff and brittle nature makes processing difficult and impedes its ability to handle high impact. Lignin, together with cellulose and hemicellulose, are the three main components of every lignocellulosic biomass. It is a natural polymer occurring in the plant cell wall. Lignin, after cellulose, is the most abundant polymer in nature. It is extracted mainly as a by-product in the pulp and paper industry. Although, traditionally lignin is burnt in industry for energy, it has a lot of value-add properties. Lignin, which to date has not been exploited, is an amorphous polymer with hydrophobic behaviour. These make it a good candidate for blending with PHB and technically, blending can be a viable solution for price and reduction and enhance production properties. Theoretically, lignin and PHB affect the physiochemical properties of each other when they become miscible in a composite. A comprehensive study on structural, thermal, rheological and environmental properties of lignin/PHB blends together with neat lignin and PHB is the targeted scope of this thesis. An introduction to this research, including a description of the research problem, a literature review and an account of the research progress linking the research papers is presented in Chapter 1. In this research, lignin was obtained from bagasse through extraction with sodium hydroxide. A novel two-step pH precipitation procedure was used to recover soda lignin with the purity of 96.3 wt% from the black liquor (i.e. the spent sodium hydroxide solution). The precipitation process is presented in Chapter 2. A sequential solvent extraction process was used to fractionate the soda lignin into three fractions. These fractions, together with the soda lignin, were characterised to determine elemental composition, purity, carbohydrate content, molecular weight, and functional group content. The thermal properties of the lignins were also determined. The results are presented and discussed in Chapter 2. On the basis of the type and quantity of functional groups, attempts were made to identify potential applications for each of the individual lignins. As an addendum to the general section on the development of composite materials of lignin, which includes Chapters 1 and 2, studies on the kinetics of bagasse thermal degradation are presented in Appendix 1. The work showed that distinct stages of mass losses depend on residual sucrose. As the development of value-added products from lignin will improve the economics of cellulosic ethanol, a review on lignin applications, which included lignin/PHB composites, is presented in Appendix 2. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are dedicated to investigations of the properties of soda lignin/PHB composites. Chapter 3 reports on the thermal stability and miscibility of the blends. Although the addition of soda lignin shifts the onset of PHB decomposition to lower temperatures, the lignin/PHB blends are thermally more stable over a wider temperature range. The results from the thermal study also indicated that blends containing up to 40 wt% soda lignin were miscible. The Tg data for these blends fitted nicely to the Gordon-Taylor and Kwei models. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) evaluation showed that the miscibility of the blends was because of specific hydrogen bonding (and similar interactions) between reactive phenolic hydroxyl groups of lignin and the carbonyl group of PHB. The thermophysical and rheological properties of soda lignin/PHB blends are presented in Chapter 4. In this chapter, the kinetics of thermal degradation of the blends is studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This preliminary investigation is limited to the processing temperature of blend manufacturing. Of significance in the study, is the drop in the apparent energy of activation, Ea from 112 kJmol-1 for pure PHB to half that value for blends. This means that the addition of lignin to PHB reduces the thermal stability of PHB, and that the comparative reduced weight loss observed in the TGA data is associated with the slower rate of lignin degradation in the composite. The Tg of PHB, as well as its melting temperature, melting enthalpy, crystallinity and melting point decrease with increase in lignin content. Results from the rheological investigation showed that at low lignin content (.30 wt%), lignin acts as a plasticiser for PHB, while at high lignin content it acts as a filler. Chapter 5 is dedicated to the environmental study of soda lignin/PHB blends. The biodegradability of lignin/PHB blends is compared to that of PHB using the standard soil burial test. To obtain acceptable biodegradation data, samples were buried for 12 months under controlled conditions. Gravimetric analysis, TGA, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FT-IR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used in the study. The results clearly demonstrated that lignin retards the biodegradation of PHB, and that the miscible blends were more resistant to degradation compared to the immiscible blends. To obtain an understanding between the structure of lignin and the properties of the blends, a methanol-soluble lignin, which contains 3× less phenolic hydroxyl group that its parent soda lignin used in preparing blends for the work reported in Chapters 3 and 4, was blended with PHB and the properties of the blends investigated. The results are reported in Chapter 6. At up to 40 wt% methanolsoluble lignin, the experimental data fitted the Gordon-Taylor and Kwei models, similar to the results obtained soda lignin-based blends. However, the values obtained for the interactive parameters for the methanol-soluble lignin blends were slightly lower than the blends obtained with soda lignin indicating weaker association between methanol-soluble lignin and PHB. FT-IR data confirmed that hydrogen bonding is the main interactive force between the reactive functional groups of lignin and the carbonyl group of PHB. In summary, the structural differences existing between the two lignins did not manifest itself in the properties of their blends.

Environmental degradation of lignin/poly(hydroxybutyrate) blends

Blends of lignin and poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were obtained by melt extrusion. They were buried in a garden soil for up to 12 months, and the extent and mechanism of degradation were investigated by gravimetric analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) over the entire range of compositions. The PHB films were disintegrated and lost 45 wt% of mass within 12 months. This value dropped to 12 wt% of mass when only 10 wt% of lignin was present, suggesting that lignin both inhibited and slowed down the rate of PHB degradation. TGA and DSC indicated structural changes, within the lignin/PHB matrix, with burial time, while FTIR results confirmed the fragmentation of the PHB polymer. XPS revealed an accumulation of biofilms on the surface of buried samples, providing evidence of a biodegradation mechanism. Significant surface roughness was observed with PHB films due to microbial attack caused by both loosely and strongly associated micro-organisms. The presence of lignin in the blends may have inhibited the colonisation of the micro-organisms and caused the blends to be more resistant to microbial attack. Analysis suggested that lignin formed strong hydrogen bonds with PHB in the buried samples and it is likely that the rate of breakdown of PHB is reduced, preventing rapid degradation of the blends.

The use of an acetoacetyl-CoA synthase in place of a -ketothiolase enhances poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production in sugarcane mesophyll cells

Engineering the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) into high biomass bioenergy crops has the potential to provide a sustainable supply of bioplastics and energy from a single plant feedstock. One of the major challenges in engineering C-4 plants for the production of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) is the significantly lower level of polymer produced in the chloroplasts of mesophyll (M) cells compared to bundle sheath (BS) cells, thereby limiting the full PHB yield-potential of the plant. In this study, we provide evidence that the access to substrate for PHB synthesis may limit polymer production in M chloroplasts. Production of PHB in M cells of sugarcane is significantly increased by replacing -ketothiolase, the first enzyme in the bacterial PHA pathway, with acetoacetyl-CoA synthase. This novel pathway enabled the production of PHB reaching an average of 6.3% of the dry weight of total leaf biomass, with levels ranging from 3.6 to 11.8% of the dry weight (DW) of individual leaves. These yields are more than twice the level reported in PHB-producing sugarcane containing the -ketothiolase and illustrate the importance of producing polymer in mesophyll plastids to maximize yield. The molecular weight of the polymer produced was greater than 2x10(6)Da. These results are a major step forward in engineering a high biomass C-4 grass for the commercial production of PHB.

Metallaboratrane Facilitated E‒H Bond Activation and Hydrogenation Catalysis

The E‒H bond activation chemistry of tris-phosophino-iron and -cobalt metallaboratranes is discussed. The ferraboratrane complex (TPB)Fe(N₂) heterolytically activates H‒H and the C‒H bonds of formaldehyde and arylacetylenes across an Fe‒B bond. In particular, H‒H bond cleavage at (TPB)Fe(N₂) is reversible and affords the iron-hydride-borohydride complex (TPB)(μ‒H)Fe(L)(H) (L = H₂, N₂). (TPB)(μ‒H)Fe(L)(H) and (TPB)Fe(N₂) are competent olefin and arylacetylene hydrogenation catalysts. Stoichiometric studies indicate that the B‒H unit is capable of acting as a hydride shuttle in the hydrogenation of olefin and arylacetylene substrates. The heterolytic cleavage of H₂ by the (TPB)Fe system is distinct from the previously reported (TPB)Co(H₂) complex, where H₂ coordinates as a non-classical H₂ adduct based on X-ray, spectroscopic, and reactivity data. The non-classical H₂ ligand in (TPB)Co(H₂) is confirmed in this work by single crystal neutron diffraction, which unequivocally shows an intact H‒H bond of 0.83 Å in the solid state. The neutron structure also shows that the H₂ ligand is localized at two orientations on cobalt trans to the boron. This localization in the solid state contrasts with the results from ENDOR spectroscopy that show that the H₂ ligand freely rotates about the Co‒H₂ axis in frozen solution. Finally, the (TPB)Fe system, as well as related tris-phosphino-iron complexes that contain a different apical ligand unit (Si, PhB, C, and N) in place of the boron in (TPB)Fe, were studied for CO₂ hydrogenation chemistry. The (TPB)Fe system is not catalytically competent, while the silicon, borate, carbon variants, (SiP^R₃)Fe, (PhBP^iPr₃)Fe, and (CP^iPr₃)Fe, respectively, are catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO₂ to formate and methylformate. The hydricity of the CO₂ reactive species in the silatrane system (SiP^iPr₃)Fe(N₂)(H) has been experimentally estimated.

Avaliação da biodegradabilidade de filmes de polihidroxibutirato com borracha natural

A modernidade exige materiais versáteis, resistentes e, durante um longo tempo os plásticos serviram a esse propósito. Entretanto, o acúmulo desses materiais ao serem descartados no meio ambiente tornou-se um problema Os polímeros biodegradáveis surgiram neste cenário como alternativa para evitar o acúmulo de resíduos plásticos no meio ambiente. O polihidroxibutirato (PHB) representa uma classe de polímeros biodegradáveis, mas que apresenta um alto custo e possui ainda propriedades térmicas limitadas. A borracha natural possui excelentes propriedades mecânicas, resistência ao envelhecimento, flexibilidade e apresenta melhor custo benefício se comparada com as borrachas sintéticas. Neste estudo, foram elaboradas misturas poliméricas de polihidroxibutirato (PHB) e látex de borracha natural em diferentes concentrações, por prensagem à quente. Os ensaios de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), espectrometria na região do infravermelho (FTIR), microscopia ótica (MO) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) foram utilizados para caracterizar e avaliar as propriedades das misturas poliméricas. O PHB e as misturas com borracha natural foram submetidos ao ensaio de biodegradabilidade através do enterro em solo simulado, conforme a norma ASTM G 160-03, variando por um período de 2 a 17 semanas. Ao final de cada período foram determinadas a perda de massa, a morfologia dos corpos de prova e foram realizadas as análises de DSC, TGA e FTIR. As misturas poliméricas apresentaram menor resistência térmica do que o PHB. No ensaio de biodegradabilidade, as misturas foram consideradas biodegradáveis, segundo a norma ASTM G 160-03 e tiveram a porcentagem de cristalinidade reduzida, tendo o teor de borracha natural contribuído para aumentar a taxa de biodegradação. As análises por MEV comprovaram a existência de consórcios de microrganismos, responsáveis pela biodegradação do PHB e das misturas poliméricas

phbB基因在莱茵衣藻中的表达与分子检测

通过构建依赖NADPH的乙酰乙酰CoA还原酶基因(phbB)的衣藻表达载体, 用石英砂VOTEX转化技术, 将phbB基因导入细胞壁缺陷的莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cc-849)中, 用含有10 mg/mL的Zeomycin的平板培养基进行筛选和实验室保持培养, 得到了表达phbB基因的转基因藻株. PCR和Southern blot结果显示phbB基因已整合到莱茵衣藻基因组中. RT-PCR与DNA杂交的检测结果显示, 导入的phbB基因在衣藻中具有转录活性.

Expression and molecular analysis of phbB gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The expression vector containing phbB and ble genes was constructed and transformed into cell-wall-deficient strain Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CC-849 by the glass-head method. The transgenic alga was selected and maintained in the TAP agar plates containing 10 mug/mL Zeomycin. Transgenic alga, which could express phbB at the transcriptional level, was obtained and further confirmed with PCR, Southern blot and RT-PCR-DNA hybridization analysis.

聚β－羟基丁酸酯的化学修饰及其特性

针对聚β一经基丁酸酷(PHB)加工窗口窄、脆性严重等不足，本论文采用在PHB分子链上接枝极性小分子顺丁烯二酸醉（MA）和将PHB与聚8一已内醋（PCL）进行醋交换的方法对其分子链进行化学修饰，试图通过PHB的分子结构变化改变其聚集态结构，从而使PHB在性能上有较大幅度的提高。获得的主要研究结果如下：1．本工作采用自由基引发聚合方法研究了PHB与MA的接枝反应。讨论了各种反应条件，如溶剂种类、单体浓度、引发剂浓度、反应时间和温度等对接枝反应的影响，确定了PHB接枝MA的最佳反应条件。采用对酸配基团进行化学滴定和~(13)C NMR方法对接枝产物的接枝率和结构进行了表征。结果表明，M八接枝到PHB的叔碳原子上，接枝率可以控制在0.2∽0.85%的范围内。2.采用DSC、WARD、POM和TGA等方法对PHB及其接枝顺丁烯二酸配共聚物（PHB-g-MA）的结晶行为、·热稳定性和生物降解特性进行了研究。结果表明：接枝产物的热稳定性明显优于PHB，热分解温度随接枝率不同提高了20-40℃。接枝后，MA基团阻碍了PHB的结晶，降低了PHB的结晶能力，使得PHB的结晶行为发生很大的变化。结晶温度降低，冷结晶温度升高，结晶焙略有下降。与PHB相比，PHB-g-MA的球晶环带结构变得清晰规整，随着接枝率的提高，球晶的环带宽度逐渐增加。在 DSC升温过程中PHB-g-MA发生重结晶，产生熔融双峰现象。但是WAXD的实验结果表明，PHB接枝MA并没有改变它的结晶结构。J . PHB接枝MA后，PHB的力学性能保持不变，并且MA基团能够促进PHB的生物降解和改善PHB的溶解性。4.采用FTIR和‘~1H NMR研究了PHB-g-MA的热分解机理。结果表明，PHB-g-MA的热分解机理与PHB相同：在高温条件下，PHB分子链的醋基部分形成六元环结构，断链时夺取亚甲基氢，生成竣基和双键两种端基。5．采用TGA方法选择不同的升温速率研究了PHB和不同接枝率的PHB-g-MA的热分解行为。PHB-g-MA的热分解温度随着接枝率的增加逐渐增加，然后逐渐下降。接枝率为0.56%时，PHB-g-MA的热分解温度最高，达到256.6℃。由Flynn-Wall-Ozawa方法得到的PHB的热分解活化能随着热失重率的增加而逐渐下降；而PHB-g-MA的热分解活化能随着接枝率和热失重率的不同，表现出不同的规律。接枝率为0.56%时，它的热分解活化能达到最大，为116.51kJ/mol．采用DSC方法对PHB和PHB-g-MA的等温结晶动力学和熔融行为进行了研究。用Avrarnl方程分析的结果表明，MA的引入使得PHB的结晶能力下降，但是并没有改变它的结晶成核机理和生长方式。随着接枝率的增加，结晶活化能增加。等温结晶后的PHB-g-MA表现出双熔融行为，这是在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果。这种熔融行为不仅与样品的接枝率有关，而且也会受到结晶温度的影响7．在不同的冷却速率下用DSC方法研究了PHB和PHB-g-MA的非等温结晶动力学和熔融行为。结果表明，PHB和PHB-g-MA在非等温结晶过程中的结晶行为与冷却速率和接枝率密切相关。用Jeziorny方法改进的Avrami方程分析了PHB和PHB-g-MA的非等温结晶行为。当冷却速率较低时，PHB-9-MA的结晶机理与PHB不同。非等温结晶后的PHB-g-MA的熔融行为表现出熔融双峰，这是在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果。8．用DSC方法研究了甲壳胺（CS）的热行为，测得CS的玻璃化转变温度（Tg）为80.4'C。考察了不同组成的PHB/CS和PHB-g-MA/CS共混体系的热行为。在PHB/CS=20/80, 40/60的共混体系中有单一的Tg出现；而 PHB-g-MA/CS=20/80, 40/60, 60/40的共混体系中也有单一的Tgo随着共混体系中PHB含量的减少，T_g逐渐增加，表明这些共混体系具有相容性。在共混体系中，随着CS含量的增加，PHB和PHB-g-MA组分的熔点和熔融烩显著降低。与对PHB相比，CS对PHB-g-MA熔点和熔融焙的抑止作用更大。9．通过FTIR, WAXD和XP S研究了相容共混体系中PHB, PHB-g-MA与CS组．分间的特殊相互作用。FTIR结果表明两组．分间形成较弱的氢键。这种氢键作用比CS自身分子内的氢键作用小，以至于很难“破坏”CS自身的聚集态结构，但是它可以“扰乱”PHB, PHB-g-MA和CS原有的结晶形貌。这一结果被WAXD进一步证实。XPS的结果清楚地表明分子间氢键作用是通过CS中的-NH_2与PHB-g-MA的C＝O产生的。在PHB分子链中接枝MA基团，可以增强这种相互作用，使PHB-g-MAICS-共混体系的Nls和C1s结合能和谱型发生明显改变。10．用熔融法和溶液法将PHB和PCL进行醋交换反应，制备PHB和PCL的共聚醋(PHB-co-PCL).讨论了各种反应条件，如组分、反应时间和温度、催化剂种类和用量等对醋交换反应的影响。采用~(13)C NMR和FTIR方法对醋交换产物的结构进行了表征。结果表明，提高反应温度和延长反应时间有利于酷交换反应的发生。调整反应条件，共聚酷中PCL的含量可以控制在0.95-4.81%的范围内。在本实验条件下，制备的PHB-co-PCL均为嵌段共聚物。11．采用DSC、WARD、POM和TGA等方法对PHB-co-PCL的热行为、晶体结构和热稳定性进行了研究。随着酷交换量的增加，PHB-co-PCL的结晶行为发生很大的变化。冷结晶温度、结晶一温度和熔点均降低。并且 PHB-co-PCL在升温过程中表现出熔融双峰，这是共聚酷在结晶过程中结晶不完善导致在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果，。PCL链段的引入并没有改变PHB的晶体结构，却使得共聚酷的结晶规整性下降。而且PHB-co-PCL的热稳定性基本保持不变。

聚3—羟基丁酸酯与聚丙撑碳酸酯共混体系研究

本论文对完全生物降解聚（3—羟基丁酸酯）（PHB）和聚丙撑碳酸酯（PPC）共混体系进行了全面研究，目的是提高PHB的综合性能，加深对共混高聚物的基本物理问题的认识，进一步明晰高聚物的结构和性能之间的关系.1.在分析判断PPC的热降解机理的基础上，对PPC进行了封端处理，阻止了以端羟基回咬“解拉链”方式引起的热降解，增加了PPC热降解反应活化能，显著地提高了PPC的稳定性（提高30K以上）.2.经热性能和形态结构等方面的表征，PHB/PPC共混体系为不相容体系，直接在PHB中加入PPC不能改善PHB的韧性和其它力学性能.3.PCL-PEG-PCL嵌段共聚物能够作为PHB/PPC的增容剂，在PHB/PPC共混体系中加入PCL-PEG-PCL三嵌段共聚物能显著减小分散相的平均尺寸.4.选用增塑剂对PPC进行增塑能够在很大范围内（80K）调节PPC的玻璃化转变温度，使PPC表现出弹性体的特性，拓宽了PPC的应用范围.5.增塑剂1,2丙二醇碳酸酯（PGC）对PHB有一定的增塑作用，但不能明显改善PHB的力学性能.6.增塑后的PPC是PHB的良好增韧剂，使PHB由脆性断裂转变为韧性断裂，最佳增韧效果可使PHB的抗冲击强度由36J/m增加到70PHB/30PPC/20PGC的307J/m，增加8倍.7.增塑后的PPC能够实现对PHB增韧，是增塑剂使得PPC在冲击实验条件下仍然保持弹性体的性质，由此引发空洞化、多重银纹和剪切屈服共存的增韧方式提高PHB的性能.

聚（3-羟基烷酸酯）的改性研究

该论文目的是改性细菌合成的聚(3-羟基丁酸酯)(PHB)及其共聚物(PHBV),采用交联或共混的方法,改变其聚集态结构或超分子结构,从而改善其力学性能.加深对高聚物结构与性能之间关系,高聚物结晶规律、及特殊相互作用在高聚物中作用的认识.1.采用反应性加工,用过氧化二异丙苯(DCP)引发PHBV的自由基链转移反应,产生了支化和交联的化学结构.2.用交联助剂二苯甲撑双马来酰亚胺(BMI)实现了PHBV的γ-辐射交联.交联的PHBV熔点和结晶度下降.3.双酚A(BPA)在PHBV/BPA共混物中起到了物理交联剂的作用.4.氢键交联结构使PHBV的链段运动受限,结晶速率下降.5.对叔丁基苯酚(TBP)在PHBV中形成了氢键接枝的超分子结构.6.经过溶液共混,BPA在PHB中起到了物理交联剂的作用,使PHB的断裂伸长率从3%提高到45%.8.二醋酸纤维素(CDA)与PHBV经溶液共混(混合溶剂氯仿/丙酮),PHBV的力学性能没有改善,原因可能是CDA-PHBV分子间的氢键作用较弱,组分间发生严重相分离,不利于性能提高.

质谱在高分子热分解及油脂分析中的应用

本论文主要包括三个部分。第一部分简单介绍了四极杆质谱仪的工作原理和所用实验技术；第二部分首先综述了质谱技术在高分子链结构和热分解机理研究中的应用，然后以直接裂解质谱（DPMS）为主要手段研究了聚对苯硫醚（PPS）、聚噻吩（PT）、聚苯胺（PAn）、聚邻甲基苯胺（POT）和聚β-羟基丁酸酯（PHB）及其共聚物的热分解行为和某些结构性质。主要讨论了电子能量、裂解温度、电离方式等对高分子裂解产物的影响，表明DPMS是研究高分子热分解机理的有效方法。几种导电聚合物的热分解均以自由基方式降解，PPS裂解形成环状和线状齐聚物，PT、PAn及POT只能形成线状齐聚物；聚β-羟基烷酸酯的热分解通过β-CH转移反应形成由羟基和烯烃结尾的齐聚物，形成的齐聚物准分子离子可进一步脱去一个分子水。第三部分用GC、GC/MS分离鉴定了山核桃油中的脂肪酸，并用FABMS测定了山核油中混合甘油三酸酯的组成。FABMS能反映不同甘油三酸酯的组成和含量，而GC、GC/MS能对各种脂肪酸进行定性和定量分析，两种方法相互补充，较全面地获得了山核桃油的组成信息。

高分子凝聚态：结晶－非晶中间层

本文应用Flory晶格模型理论，解释了甲苯和辛烷萃取，熔融结晶聚乙烯样品具有较厚的中间层，分析了定量实验结果同理论结果差别的原因。还应用Kumar共混物晶格模型理论对部分相容共混体系PHB／PBHE的实验结果进行了讨论。本文用DSC和FTIR方法研究了聚（β－羟基丁酸酯）（PHB）／聚双酚A羟基醚（PBHE）结晶／非晶共混体系。结果表明，该体系虽然没有完全相容，表现为单一的玻璃化转变温度，但还是具有一定程度的相容性，可形成连续相和分散相形态结构。本文还采用不同的实验方法（SACS、NMR和激光Raman光谱）对甲苯和辛烷萃取的聚乙烯样品进行了研究。

慢生型大豆根瘤菌(Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum)聚羟丁酸合成酶基因(phbC)突变体的构建及其特性

通过转座子Tn5诱变和同源重组 ,构建了BradyrhizobiumjaponicumUSDA110聚羟丁酸合成酶基因 (phbC)突变体 .序列测定确定了转座子插入的精确位置 ,所获得的 4个转座子诱变的质粒其Tn5插在 phbC基因内两个相距仅 9bp的位点 .被Southern和PCR证实的突变体菌株仍能产生相当于野生型菌株 12 .97%～ 2 5 .10 %的PHB ,并且在突变体和野生型菌株总DNA杂交图上都呈现出一条约 5kb的阳性带 ,推测在B .japonicum基因组中存在不止一个聚羟丁酸合成酶基因 .图 3表 4参 17