POLY-GLUTAMIC ACID (PGA) – STRUCTURE, SYNTHESIS, GENOMIC ORGANIZATION AND ITS APPLICATION: A REVIEW

Mankind has been exploring many new dimensions and techniques to obtain the most feasible and cost effective biopolymers. Biopolymers are the 21^st century polymers and are in great demand as they are very easy to produce through the microbial partners and their conglomeration. Future is all about the emancipation of higher finesse quality products with an iota of eco-friendliness. Biodegradation and low pollutant output has made these polymers from the biological sources, a great eco-friendly substituent for the chemical based polymers. Poly-g-Glutamic Acid (PGA) is a naturally occurring anionic polymer composed of extensively viscous homo-polyamide of D and L- Glutamic acid units. Its multi-functionality, biodegradability, non-toxicity, compatibility and edibility have made it a promising biopolymer for food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. PGA has several applications in environmental, agricultural and biomedical products as well as it can be used as biodegradable packing material and in other applications including conductive display material, drug delivery, gene vector, dispersant and enzyme-immobilizing material. In this review, we have discussed about the history of PGA, its structure, synthesis, genes and its organization and the applications of PGA.