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Biosurfactants from Bacillus licheniformis: structural analysis and characterization

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Summary

The surface-active compounds of the strain Bacillus licheniformis were isolated and their structure was elucidated. The high surface-active capacity of the crude extract was basically due to traces of long-chain saturated fatty acids, especially of palmitic and stearic acids, to a mixture of small amounts of hydrocarbons with chain lengths of 20 and 22 carbons, and mainly to appreciable amounts of four slightly different lipopeptides. The lipopeptides were found to be a mixture of four closely related compounds. The lipophilic part consisting of i-, n-C14 or i-, ai-C15 β-OH fatty acids was linked to the hydrophilic peptide moiety, which contained seven amino acids (Glu, Asp, Val, three Leu and Ile) by a lactone linkage. Fifteen milligrams per litre of the purified lipopeptide product decreased the surface tension of water from 72 mN m−1 to 27 mN m−1, characterizing the product as a powerful surface-active agent that compares favourably to other (bio)surfactants. Antibiotic activity was demonstrated against bacteria and yeasts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biotechnologie, ETH-Hönggerberg, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    Katharina Jenny & Armin Fiechter

  2. Bideco AG, Im Schörli, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Othmar Käppeli

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  1. Katharina Jenny
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  2. Othmar Käppeli
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  3. Armin Fiechter
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Jenny, K., Käppeli, O. & Fiechter, A. Biosurfactants from Bacillus licheniformis: structural analysis and characterization. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 36, 5–13 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164690

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164690

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