| Ralstonia eutrophus (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) | |
|---|---|
| Cultures of Alcaligenes eutrophus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
| Class: | Beta Proteobacteria |
| Order: | Burkholderiales |
| Family: | Alcaligenaceae |
| Genus: | Alcaligenes |
| Species: | A. eutrophus |
| Binomial name | |
| Alcaligenes eutrophus Davis 1969 |
|
Alcaligenes eutrophus is a bacterial species that naturally produces polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). PHAs are a broad type of biodegradable polymers that can be used for biodegradable plastics. A. eutrophus specifically produces polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), which it uses for storing carbon when in an environment with abundant carbon, but limited essential nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus. The gene for PHB production has been cloned and engineered into plants.
The name Alcaligenes eutrophus is no longer used. After modification to Ralstonia eutrophus and then Wausteria eutrophus, the name is now Ralstonia metallidurans[1] or or Cuprivadus necator[2]