Fatty Acids in the GenusBacillusI. Iso- and Anteiso-Fatty Acids as Characteristic Constituents of Lipids in 10 Species

Abstract

Fatty acids produced by 22 strains of 10 species of the genus Bacillus were analyzed on a very efficient and selective gas-liquid chromatographic column. All of the 10 species, alvei, brevis, cereus, circulans, licheniformis, macerans, megaterium, polymyxa, pumilus, and subtilis, produced eight fatty acids, six branched (anteiso-C15, anteiso-C17, iso-C14, iso-C15, iso-C16, and iso-C17) and two normal (n-Cl4 and n-C16). In all cases, the six branched-chain fatty acids made up over 60% of the total fatty acids. In addition to the eight fatty acids, B. cereus produced four extra fatty acids, three branched (anteiso-C13, iso-C12, and iso-C13) and one monoenoic-n-CI6. Furthermore, there were distinct differences in the relative amounts of fatty acids produced between B. cereus and the remaining nine species. B. cereus produced iso-C15 fatty acid in the largest amount on a glucose-yeast extract medium as well as on Pennassay Broth. On the other hand, for the remaining nine species, anteiso-C15 fatty acid was the major fatty acid from the glucose-yeast extract medium, whereas the amount of iso-C15 fatty acid from Penassay Broth became comparable to that of anteiso-C15 fatty acid. Mechanisms and various factors affecting the fatty acid distribution pattern in the 10 Bacillus species are discussed.

2 H/ 1 H variation in microbial lipids is controlled by NADPH metabolism

“…Fatty acid abundances varied widely between strains but were generally consistent in the same strain grown on different substrates. Identified fatty acids and their abundances are in good agreement with published fatty acid profiles for these species (10,(33)(34)(35)(36).…”

Quantitative analysis of the phospholipids of some marine bioluminescent bacteria

“…The methyl esters of 1 4-methylpentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, 16-methylheptadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid were identified by a comparison of the retention times with those of authentic materials. A comparison of the IR spectrum of the ester mixture obtained by evaporation of the hexane extract with that of a mixture made from the authentic methyl-branched esters as well as an NMR spectrum of the ester mixture, confirmed the identifications (20,21). Trace amounts of other esters were also present in the hexane extract, but no unsaturated or cyclopropane fatty acid methyl esters were found.…”

The fatty acid composition of three unicellular algal species used as food sources for larvae of the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

“…The presence of iso and anteiso fatty acids suggests contamination by bacteria (34,35) since the algal cultures were not bacteria-free.…”