Switching to bio-based plastics is necessary, and our capability of manufacturing bio-degradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with tailored physicochemical properties is important for a circular economy for plastics. A currently studied platform for PHA synthesis is Cupriavidus necator strain H16, which has shown high production of PHA. However, microbial diversity for the specialized design of PHA production is lacking, limiting the capability of modifying PHA design and production for specific applications. Specifically, the biodiversity of C. necator strains is an underappreciated and understudied avenue that could provide a more robust framework for PHA production. In this study, we characterized 13 evolutionary different C. necator strains and evaluated their potential as advanced PHA producers. Through bio-prospecting and genetic engineering, we identified novel C. necator strains with varying PHA physicochemical properties. We evaluated their substrate utilization and production metrics and compared their transformation efficiency and genetic robustness to the standard strain H16. In parallel, genetic methods were developed to create higher-efficiency gene editing of the desired pathways. These techniques allowed for rapid fine-tuning of material properties and improved PHA production. The results suggest that C. necator's biodiversity enables the development of novel PHA platforms capable of tailored physicochemical properties at large-scale production. Creating a sustainable production of biodegradable plastics will increase sustainability, add to a circular plastic economy, and reduce the use of petroleum-based plastics.
