Biosynthesis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols by 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl pentadecane-grown cells of Nocardia globerula 432

Nocardia globerula strain 432 was able to synthesize triacylglycerols (TAG) during cultivation on 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl pentadecane (pristane) under n itrogen-limiting conditions. Within these cells, 4,8,12-trimethyl tridecano ic acid was the major fatty acid detected. Fatty acids with an odd number o f carbon atoms and minor amounts of even-numbered fatty acids were also obs erved. Experiments carried out with acrylic acid, an inhibitor of beta -oxi dation, suggested that odd-numbered fatty acids such as C15:0, C17:0 and 10 -methyl C17:0 were synthesized de novo using propionyl-CoA, the beta -oxida tion product, as precursor, Although N. globerula 432 incorporated mainly s traight chain fatty acids into TAG, the branched fatty acid 4,8,12-trimethy l tridecanoic acid also appeared, to some extent, in the acylglycerols. The importance of TAG biosynthesis by pristane-grown cells of N. globerula str ain 432 is discussed. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological socie ties. Published by Elsevier science B.V. All rights reserved.