Comparison of the fatty acids of proteolytic type B and nonproteolytic types E and F of Clostridium botulinum.

Applied Microbiology
C E KimbleA W Anderson

Abstract

Lipids were extracted from vegetative cells and spores of Clostridium botulinum. The total lipids extracted averaged approximately 3.8% of the dry weight of vegetative cells and 2.5% of the dry weight of spores of types 61E, "F," and 115B. The fatty acids were analyzed in the form of their methyl esters by gas-liquid chromatography. Infrared spectroscopy, mercuric acetate fractionation, and silver nitratethin layer chromatography served as complementary means of analysis. The total fatty acids included straight chain, saturated, unsaturated, and cyclopropane acids. Hexadecanoic and tetradecanoic acids were the predominant acids in both the spores and vegetative cells. Together, they comprised over 50% of the total fatty acids. Unsaturated acids were the second major group. These were primarily 7,8-tetradecenoic, 9,10-hexadecenoic, 7,8-hexadecenoic, 11,12-octadecenoic, and 9,10-octadecenoic acids. Nonproteolytic types 61E and "F" possessed an 18-carbon diunsaturate, which was not found in the vegetative cells or spores of proteolytic type 115B. A mechanism for the synthesis of unsaturated and cyclopropane acids was proposed.

References

Jan 1, 1966·Advances in Lipid Research·W J Lennarz
Sep 1, 1961·Journal of Bacteriology·L E SACKS, G ALDERTON
Sep 1, 1962·Journal of Bacteriology·N GRECZM D SCHNEIDER
Aug 1, 1964·Journal of Bacteriology·C K HUSTON, P W ALBRO

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Botulism (ASM)

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Discover the latest research on botulism here.

Botulism

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Discover the latest research on botulism here.