Effect of Substrate on the Fatty Acid Composition of Hydrocarbon- and Ketone-utilizing Microorganisms

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The fatty acid pattern in hydrocarbon- and ketone-utilizing bacteria after growth on various substrates was examined. The fatty acid composition of one hydrocarbon-utilizing organism ( Mycobacterium sp. strain OFS) was investigated in detail after growth on n -alkanes, 1-alkenes, ketones, and n -alcohols. n -Alkanes shorter than C 13 or longer than C 17 were not incorporated into cellular fatty acids without some degradation. Strain OFS incorporated C 14 to C 17 1-alkenes into cellular fatty acids as the ω-monoenoic fatty acid. Methyl ketones were incorporated into strain OFS after removal of one- or two-carbon fragments from the carbonyl end of the molecule. An organism isolated by enrichment on methyl ketones was incapable of n -alkane utilization but could grow on, although not incorporate, ketones or long chain n -alcohols into cellular fatty acids.