Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Analysis of Fatty Acid Content and Composition in Microalgae
Published on: October 1, 2013
[Fatty acid composition of Wautersia eutropha lipids under conditions of active polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis]
Abstract:
The fatty acid composition of the lipids of a Wautersia eutropha polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing strain was studied by chromato-mass spectrometry. A total of 27 fatty acids were identified; their distribution in the cell fractions was determined. In the cytoplasmic membrane, palmitic, palmitoleic, and cis-vaccenic acids were the major components. Long-chain beta-hydroxy acids and myristic acid (components of the lipopolysaccharides of the cell envelope) predominated in the fraction of strongly bound lipids. When the polymer was actively synthesized, the content of cyclopropane acids in the easily extracted lipids increased and the content of the corresponding monoenoic acids decreased. The strongly bound lipids had a high content of long-chain beta-hydroxy acids (more than 50% of the total fatty acids). These results made it possible to determine the source of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) contamination and to choose the strategy for their purification.
Related Concept Videos
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Biofuels
Lipid Catabolism
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Formation of Lipopolysaccharides
Lipids as Anchors
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...

