Production and structure elucidation of di- and oligosaccharide lipids (biosurfactants) from Tsukamurella sp. Nov.

The bacterium Tsukamurella sp. nov., isolated from soil, was found to produ ce novel glycolipids when grown on sunflower oil as the sole carbon source. The glycolipids were isolated by chromatography on silica columns and thei r structures elucidated using a combination of multidimensional NMR and MS techniques. The three main components are 2,3-di-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyrano syl-(1-1)-alpha-D-glucopyranose, 2,3-di-O-acyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)- 4,6-di-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-alpha-D-glucopyranose and 2,3-di -O-acyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta-D-galactopyranosy-(1-6)-4,6-di O-a cyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-alpha-D-glucopyranosl which are linked to fatty acids varying in chain length from C-4 to C-18. The glycolipids are m ainly extracellular but are also found attached to the cell walls. During t he cultivation the composition of the glycolipids changed from disaccharide - to tri- and tetrasaccharide lipids. The glycolipids show good surface-act ive behaviour and have antimicrobial properties.