Skip to main content
Log in

Effect of growth phase on the fatty acid composition of Thermus spp.

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two yellow and two red pigmented strains of Thermus were monitored for changes in fatty acid content and composition with reference to growth phase at the optimum temperature. Fatty acid content per mg of dry weight increased as the cultures aged. In addition the quantities of iso C 15:0, iso C 17:0 and iso C 16:0 increased in yellow pigmented strains, but in red pigmented strains, an increase was seen in iso C 15:0, but C 16:0 and iso C 16:0 levels decreased. Thus the fatty acid composition of these organisms varies with growth phase, and shows also strain specific variability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Brock TD (1984) Genus Thermus. In: Krieg NR, Holt JG (eds) Bergey's manual of systematic bacteriology. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 333–337

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock TD, Freeze H (1969) Thermus aquaticus gen. n. and sp. n., a non-sporulating extreme thermophile. J Bacteriol 98: 289–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Butterworth PHW, Bloch K (1970) Comparative aspects of fatty acid synthesis in Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Eur J Biochem 12: 496–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronan JR, Gelmann EP (1975) Physical properties of membrane lipids: biological relevance and regulation. Bacteriol Rev 39: 232–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Degryse E, Glansdorf N, Piérard A (1978) A comparative analysis of extreme thermophilic bacteria belonging to the genus Thermus. Arch Microbiol 117: 189–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Hensel R, Demharter W, Kandler O, Kroppenstedt RM, Stackerbrandt E (1986) Chemotaxonomic and molecular-genetic studies of the genus Thermus: evidence for a phylogenetic relationship fo Thermus aquaticus and Thermus ruber to the genus Deinococcus. In J Syst Bacteriol 36: 444–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson TJ, Ramaley RF, Meinschein WG (1973) Fatty acids of a non-pigmented, thermophilic bacterium similar to Thermus aquaticus. Arch Microbiol 88: 127–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaneda T (1972) Positional preference of fatty acids in phospholipids of Bacillus cereus and its relation to growth temperature. Biochim Biophys Acta 280: 297–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaneda T (1977) Fatty acids of the genus Bacillus: an example of branched-chain preference. Bacteriol Rev 41: 391–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Oku H, Kaneda T (1988) Biosynthesis of branched-chain fatty acids in Bacillus subtilis. A decarboxylase is essential for branched-chain fatty acid synthethase. J Biol Chem 263: 18386–18396

    Google Scholar 

  • Oshima M, Miyagawa A (1974) Comparative studies on the fatty acid composition of moderately and extremely thermophilic bacteria. Lipids 9: 476–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratledge C, Boulton CA (1985) Fats and oils. In: Blanch HW, Drew SD, Wang DIC (eds) Comprehensive biotechnology. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray PH, White DC, Brock TD (1971) Effect of temperature on the fatty acid composition of Thermus aquaticus. J Bacteriol 106: 25–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell NJ (1983) Adaptation to temperature in bacterial membranes. Biochem Soc Trans 11: 333–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryhage R, Stenhagen E, (1960) Mass spectrometry in lipid research. J Lipid Res 1: 361–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonnleiter B, Cometta S, Fiechter A (1982) Growth Kinetics of Thermus thermophilus. Eur J Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 15: 75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Suutari M, Liukkonen K, Laakso S (1990) Temperature adaptation in yeasts: the role of fatty acids. J Gen Microbiol 136: 1469–1474

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nordström, K.M. Effect of growth phase on the fatty acid composition of Thermus spp.. Arch. Microbiol. 158, 452–455 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276308

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276308

Key words

Navigation