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Fatty Acids in the Genus Bacillus I. Iso- and Anteiso-Fatty Acids as Characteristic Constituents of Lipids in 10 Species¹

^a The Research Council of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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-C₁₄ 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-C₁₆. 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.

¹ Contribution No. 363 of the Research Council of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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