Extractable and lipopolysaccharide fatty acid and hydroxy acid profiles from Desulfovibrio species

Abstract An analysis of the phospholipid ester-linked and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fatty acids and hydroxy fatty acids of six lactate-utilizing Desulfvibrio-type sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) has been performed using capillary gas-liquid chro-matography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). The concentrations of normal fatty acids were essentially similar, with the possible exception of a high content of normal fatty acids in the LPS of Desulfvibrio gigas. Determination of monounsaturated acid double bond configuration was performed by GLC-MS analysis of the derivatized fatty acids. A total of nine branched chain and eight straight chain monounsaturated fatty acids was detected in the Desulfvibrio species analyzed. The major component de-tected in five Desulfvibrio was the 17-carbon iso-branched monoenoic acid which showed cis unsaturation [i17:l(n-7)c] seven carbons from the terminal methyl group of the fatty aci