Characterization and metabolism of free fatty alcohols fromEscherichia coli
- 1 May 1972
- Vol. 7 (5) , 275-281
- https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02532644
Abstract
Free fatty acohols have been established as lipid components ofE. coli K‐12. Using combined gas liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, the major alcohols in aerobically grown cells were identified as 1‐tetradecanol (18%), 1‐hexadecanol (28%), 1‐octadecanol (14%), and 2‐pentadecanol (27%). Small amounts of 1‐hexadecenol (3%), 2‐tridecanol (8%), and 2‐tetradecanol (1.5%) were also detected. Analysis of anaerobically grown cells has shown a selective decrease of the secondary alcohols. 2‐Pentadecanol was present as only 7% of the total alcohol fraction, and only traces of 2‐tridecanol and 2‐tetradecanol were found. The major alcohols in anaerobic cells were 1‐tetradecanol, 1‐pentadecanol, 1‐hexadecenol and 1‐hexadecanol. The above observations strongly suggest two pathways for the synthesis of fatty alcohols inE. coli. One pathway synthesizes the primary alcohols and does not require molecular oxygen, and a separate pathway synthesizes the secondary alcohols and has a requirement for molecular oxygen.Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Microbial subterminal oxidation of alkanes and alk‐1‐enesLipids, 1971
- Enzymic reduction of long-chain acyl-CoA to fatty aldehyde and alcohol by extracts of Clostridium butyricumBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Lipids and Lipid Metabolism, 1970
- GLYCERYL ETHER PHOSPHOLIPID IN ANAEROBIC BACTERIAThe Journal of General and Applied Microbiology, 1970
- Effect of fasting on the esterfied α-glycerol ethers of the neutral lipids of heart and adipose tissue of ratsMetabolism, 1969
- Mass spectral discrimination between monoenoic and cyclopropanoid, and between normal, iso, and anteiso fatty acid methyl estersJournal of Lipid Research, 1969
- Quantitative determination of alk‐1‐enyl‐ and alkyl‐glyceryl ethers in neutral lipids and phospholipidsLipids, 1968
- Hydrocarbon oxidation by a bacterial enzyme systemBiochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1963
- Bacterial Oxidation of Hydrocarbons**Dedicated to the memory of a contemporary pioneer in hydrocarbon microbiology—Dr. R. J. Strawinski, who died January 27, 1961. The literature coverage for material in this article was concluded March 31, 1961. Preparation of this paper was aided by a National Science Foundation research grant.Published by Elsevier ,1962
- Mass Spectra of Esters. Formation of Rearrangement IonsAnalytical Chemistry, 1959
- A SIMPLE METHOD FOR THE ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF TOTAL LIPIDES FROM ANIMAL TISSUESJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1957