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Updated: May 6, 2026
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Isolation and Chemical Characterization of Lipid A from Gram-negative Bacteria
Published on: September 17, 2013
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trans-Monounsaturated Acids in a Marine Bacterial Isolate
F T Gillan1, R B Johns, T V Verheyen
1Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|April 1, 1981
Summary
Marine bacteria contain trans-monounsaturated fatty acids. This finding suggests bacteria directly contribute these fatty acids to marine sediments, impacting sediment composition.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Marine Biology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Trans-monounsaturated fatty acids have been detected in marine sediments.
- The origin of these trans-fatty acids in sediments has been unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and significance of trans-monounsaturated fatty acids in marine bacteria.
- To determine if marine bacteria can be a source of trans-fatty acids in sediments.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and cultivation of a sedimentary bacterial species.
- Analysis of fatty acid composition using gas chromatography.
- Quantification of trans- and cis-monounsaturated fatty acids.
Main Results:
- A marine bacterial isolate contained 6% trans-monounsaturated fatty acids.
- The ratio of trans- to cis-fatty acids in the isolate ranged from 3.2 to 7.6.
Conclusions:
- Marine bacteria can synthesize and contain significant amounts of trans-monounsaturated fatty acids.
- Direct bacterial input is a plausible source for trans-fatty acids found in marine sediments.
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