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Differences in cellular fatty acids and lipid composition inClostridium pasteurianum under nitrogen-and non-nitrogen-fixing conditions

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Abstract

Clostridium pasteurianum total cellular saturated fatty acids increased through its growth cycle from 81% to 91% but varied significantly in the composition under nitrogen- and non-nitrogen-fixing conditions. During ammonia-assimilating growth, palmitic acid decreased from 67.7% to 43.5% by late log while marked increases in shorter chain saturated fatty acids (C15:0 and below) and a long chain saturated C22:0 occured. In contrast, under N2-fixing growth conditions, palmitic acid increased from 45.5% to 84.3% by late log, representing nearly the total amound of saturated fatty acids found inC. pasteurianum. The total cellular lipid concentration decreased as the culture aged. irrespective of the nitrogen sources; however, the phospholipid concentration increased significantly during N2-fixing growth as compared with a 50% decrease during ammonia-assimilating conditions. The implication of these differences and possible role of palmitic acid and phospholipids inC. pasteurianum nitrogen fixation process are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Calgary, T2N 1N4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Y. M. Deo, R. D. Bryant & E. J. Laishley

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  1. Y. M. Deo
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  2. R. D. Bryant
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  3. E. J. Laishley
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Deo, Y.M., Bryant, R.D. & Laishley, E.J. Differences in cellular fatty acids and lipid composition inClostridium pasteurianum under nitrogen-and non-nitrogen-fixing conditions. Current Microbiology 3, 55–58 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02603135

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