Phospholipid Ester-linked Fatty Acid Biomarkers of Acetate-oxidizing Sulphate-reducers and Other Sulphide-forming Bacteria

• Published in: Journal of general microbiology Vol. 132; no. 7; pp. 1815 - 1825
• Main Authors: DOWLING, NICHOLAS J. E, WIDDEL, FRIEDRICH, WHITE, DAVID C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Soc General Microbiol 01-07-1986; New York, NY Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Desulfobacter; Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbiology; Morphology, structure, chemical composition; Thin layer chromatography; Sulfatoreduction; Desulfobacter; Desulfovibrio; Microorganism culture; Phospholipid; Bacteria; Oxidation; Acetate; Fatty acids
• ISSN: 0022-1287; 1350-0872; 1465-2080
• DOI: 10.1099/00221287-132-7-1815

1 Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306–3043, USA
2 Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Konstanz, Postfach 5560 D-7750, Konstanz, FRG
ABSTRACT
Summary: The phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids were examined in four Desulfobacter strains (2ac9, AcBa, 3ac10 and 4ac11), a Desulfobacter -like ‘fat vibrio’ (AcKo) and Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans (5575), which are all sulphate-reducing bacteria that oxidize acetate. A thermophilic sulphate reducer, Desulfovibrio thermophilus , and two sulphur-reducing bacteria, Desulfuromonas acetoxidans (11070) and a Campylobacter -like spirillum (5175), were also studied. The Desulfobacter spp. were characterized by significant quantities of 10-methylhexadecanoic acid. Other 10-methyl fatty acids were also detected in Desulfobacter spp. No 10-methyl fatty acids were detected in the other organisms examined, supporting the use of 10-methylhexadecanoic acid as a biomarker for Desulfobacter . High levels of cyclopropyl fatty acids, including two isomers of both methylenehexadecanoic (cy17:0) and methyleneheptadecanoic (cy18:0) acids, were also characteristic of Desulfobacter spp. The influence of the volatile fatty acids (VFA) propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate and 2-methylbutyrate on the lipid fatty acid distribution was studied with two Desulfobacter strains (2ac9, AcBa) and Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans . Although these sulphate reducers cannot oxidize the VFA, their presence in the acetate growth medium caused a shift in the fatty acid distribution in favour of odd-numbered and branched chains by apparent direct incorporation into the fatty acids as chain initiators. The Desulfobacter strains were distinguished from other sulphide-forming bacteria by the percentage of unsaturated and the percentage of branched fatty acids.