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INCORPORATION OF ISOBUTYRATE AND VALERATE INTO CELLULAR PLASMALOGEN BY BACTEROIDES SUCCINOGENES

^a Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

ABSTRACT

WEGNER, G. H. (University of Wisconsin, Madison) AND E. M. FOSTER. Incorporation of isobutyrate and valerate into cellular plasmalogen by Bacteroides succinogenes. J. Bacteriol. 85:53–61. 1963.—Bacteroides succinogenes was found to require both a branched-chain volatile fatty acid (e.g., isobutyric) and a straight-chain acid (e.g., valeric) for growth. The organism used the acids as precursors for the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids and fatty aldehydes, which in turn were employed in the synthesis of phospholipid, mainly ethanolamine plasmalogen. Isobutyric acid was incorporated primarily into branched-chain C₁₄ and C₁₆ acids (tentatively identified as 12-methyl tridecanoic and 14-methyl pentadecanoic acids, respectively), and into fatty aldehydes. Valeric acid was used mainly for the synthesis of n-C₁₃ and n-C₁₅ fatty acids and fatty aldehydes. Apparently the two short-chain fatty acids were built up by the addition of two-carbon units to form the long-chain acids and aldehydes of the plasmalogen.

¹ Present address: Research and Development Department, Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Okla.