<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Environmental challenges related to plastic waste underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have emerged as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, particularly in packaging, due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, the cost of PHA production and certain physical limitations compared to synthetic polymers remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. Within this context, <italic>Actinophytocola algeriensis</italic>, an Actinobacteria species isolated from the Sahara desert in Algeria, holds promise for its biotechnological potential and bioactive molecules. Despite this, our understanding of its enzyme profile, notably the PHA synthase (EC 2.3.1.304), the key enzyme in PHA biosynthesis, remains limited. In this study, the 3D structure of PHA synthase was modeled utilizing the artificial intelligence program AlphaFold, followed by the structural refinement and validation. In addition, physicochemical properties and functional characterization were conducted using various bioinformatics tools. This research signifies a substantial advancement in comprehending the molecular mechanisms underlying PHA biosynthesis in <italic>A. algeriensis</italic>, thereby fostering the development of innovative biotechnological applications for sustainable biopolymer production.</p>
</abstract>

Environmental challenges related to plastic waste underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have emerged as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, particularly in packaging, due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, the cost of PHA production and certain physical limitations compared to synthetic polymers remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. Within this context, Actinophytocola algeriensis, an Actinobacteria species isolated from the Sahara desert in Algeria, holds promise for its biotechnological potential and bioactive molecules. Despite this, our understanding of its enzyme profile, notably the PHA synthase (EC 2.3.1.304), the key enzyme in PHA biosynthesis, remains limited. In this study, the 3D structure of PHA synthase was modeled utilizing the artificial intelligence program AlphaFold, followed by the structural refinement and validation. In addition, physicochemical properties and functional characterization were conducted using various bioinformatics tools. This research signifies a substantial advancement in comprehending the molecular mechanisms underlying PHA biosynthesis in A. algeriensis, thereby fostering the development of innovative biotechnological applications for sustainable biopolymer production.

AlphaFold Modeling and Computational Analysis of a PHA Synthase from <italic>Actinophytocola algeriensis</italic>

Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie et Sciences de la Terre

Laboratoire de Valorisation et Conservation des Écosystèmes Arides (LVCEA), Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie et Sciences de la Terre

University of Life Sciences “King Michael I of Romania”

Advanced Research in Life Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

AlphaFold Modeling and Computational Analysis of a PHA Synthase from 

Environmental challenges related to plastic waste underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have emerged as sustainable...

AlphaFold Modeling and Computational Analysis of a PHA Synthase from Actinophytocola algeriensis

Published Online: Aug 12, 2024

Page range: 39 - 44

Received: May 01, 2024

Accepted: Jul 01, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/arls-2024-0005

Keywords
Polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHA synthase, bioinformatics tools

© 2024 Mahfoud Bakli et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

AlphaFold Modeling and Computational Analysis of a PHA Synthase from Actinophytocola algeriensis

Published Online: Aug 12, 2024

Page range: 39 - 44

Received: May 01, 2024

Accepted: Jul 01, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/arls-2024-0005

KeywordsPolyhydroxyalkanoates, PHA synthase, bioinformatics tools

© 2024 Mahfoud Bakli et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHA synthase, bioinformatics tools