ANALYSIS OF FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF CANDIDA SPECIES BY GAS-LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY USING A POLAR COLUMN

  • 1 January 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (206) , 37-42
Abstract
The fatty acid composition of representative Candida species was examined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) using a polar column. The major fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 saturated, C16:1 and C18:1 monoenoic series, with or without C18 polyunsaturated acids (C18:2 and C18:3). In Torulopsis glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae the C18:2 and C18:3 acids were not found, but the C10:0 and C1:2:0 acids were detected in S. cerevisiae. These results indicated that the Candida genus could be distinguished from Torulopsis and Saccharomyces genera by GLC analysis of fatty acids. Quantitative differences in the fatty acid composition between cells grown at high temperature (37.degree. C) and low temperature (25.degree. C) were found generally in Candida species, and the amounts of C18 polyunsaturated acids (C18:2 and C18:3) increased in the cells grown at 25.degree. C. Each Candida species showed a characteristic profile in fatty acids composition. Determination of the cellular fatty acid composition in Candida species is likely to be useful for the grouping or chemotaxonomy of newer isolates of Candida species.