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Bacteriohopanetetrol: abundant lipid in frankia cells and in nitrogen-fixing nodule tissue
A M Berry1, R A Moreau, A D Jones
1Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of California, Davis, California 95616.
Abstract:
An unusual class of lipid with amphiphilic properties has been detected in nodule tissue of Alnus and Ceanothus. High levels of the same lipid (20-50% of total cell lipids) were detected in solvent extracts of Frankia spp. cells. However, the lipid was absent in host roots. The lipid was purified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography/flame ionization detector. Phenol-sulfuric acid determinations and proton nuclear magnetic resonance indicated that the purified lipid is not a glycolipid. Mass spectra of the predominant species are consistent with published spectra for bacteriohopanetetrol (C(35)H(62)O(4)), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, or hopanoid.
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