RAPID SEPARATION OF MICROBIAL LIPIDS USING SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION COLUMNS

A method was developed to rapidly separate lipid classes commonly foun d in microorganisms. The method is based on the use of aminopropyl sol id phase extraction columns to separate polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), p hospholipids, sterols, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, an d steryl esters. Recoveries of all lipid classes, with the exception o f PHA and sterols, ranged from 91% to greater than 99%. PHA were recov ered at 69% of the standard, and sterols from 82-84% of the standard. When applied to the analysis of lipids extracted from the cyanobacteri um Spirulina platensis, the method afforded excellent recovery and sep aration of phospholipids and diglycerides including saturated, monouns aturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The S. platensis lipids also contained hydrocarbons and phytol recovered in the steryl ester and d iglyceride fractions, respectively. This method provided a high yield, specific and rapid separation of microbial lipids with little contami nation from other lipid groups, and will be useful for the characteriz ation of microbial communities in environmental samples. (C) 1998 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.