Polyhydroxyalkanoates

**Definition:** Biodegradable microbial polyesters which contain hydroxyacyl monomers. Polyhydroxyalkanoates are carbon and energy reserve materials produced and sequestered in cytoplasmic granules called polyhydroxyalkanoate or PHA granules by various archaea and bacteria and may additionally provide protective mechanism to the microbes. They are biosynthesized by microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase enzymes using fatty acids or citramalate synthase enzymes using glucose.

**Tree numbers:** - D05.750.078.789 - D05.750.728.890 - D10.751

**Synonyms:** - Polyhydroxyalkanoate - Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) - Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)