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Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1968 Jun;95(6):2102–2107. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.6.2102-2107.1968

Microbial Assimilation of Hydrocarbons I. Fatty Acids Derived from Normal Alkanes

R Makula 1, W R Finnerty 1
PMCID: PMC315140  PMID: 5669891

Abstract

Fatty acids derived from Micrococcus cerificans growing at the expense of odd- and even-carbon normal alkanes were studied. Results demonstrated that cultures grown with a variety of nonhydrocarbon substrates serving as sole carbon and energy source yielded only even-carbon fatty acids. Even-chain alkanes, dodecane through octadecane serving as sole carbon source, resulted in even-carbon fatty acids with direct correlation between carbon number of the major fatty acid species and carbon number of the alkane substrate. Odd-carbon alkanes, undecane through heptadecane serving as sole carbon source, yielded both odd- and even-carbon fatty acids. A transitional shift from even-carbon fatty acids to odd-carbon fatty acids was observed as the carbon number of the alkane substrate increased. Unsaturated fatty acids were found to comprise a significant percentage of all profiles. Analysis of unsaturated fatty acids showed all odd- and even-carbon acids analyzed were Δ9 monounsaturated fatty acids.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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