Bacterial hydrocarbon oxidation. I. Oxidation of n-hexadecane by a gram-negative coccus

Structure elucidation and proposed de novo synthesis of an unusual mono-rhamnolipid by Pseudomonas guguanensis from Chennai Port area

In this paper, we describe the isolation of an unusual type of high molecular weight monorhamnolipid attached to esters of palmitic, stearic, hexa and octadecanoic acids as against the routinely reported di-rhamnolipids linked to hydroxydecanoic acids. The bioemulsifier was column-purified and the chemical nature of the compound was elucidated using FT-IR, GC-MS and 1D [¹H and¹³C] and 2D NMR. This monorhamnolipid is extracted from a bacterium, Pseudomonas guganensis and is not reported to have biological activities, let alone emulsification abilities. The bacterium continually produced rhamnolipids when nourished with n-hexadecane as its lone carbon source. The extracellularly secreted monorhamnolipids are capable of degrading hydrocarbons, with most preference to n-hexadecane [EI₂₄ of 56 ± 1.42% by 2 mL of the spent medium]. Whilst the crude ethyl acetate partitioned extract had an EI₂₄ of 65 ± 1.43%; the purified rhamnolipid product showed 78 ± 1.75% both at 12.5 mg/mL concentration. The used-up n-hexadecane is biotransformed to prepare its own rhamnolipids which in return is utilized to degrade n-alkanes thus creating a circular pathway which is proposed herein. This bacterium can be seen as a new source of bioemulsifier to reduce hydrocarbon in polluted waters.

First isolation of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter beijerinckii from an environmental sample

The emergence of opportunistic Acinetobacter spp. in healthcare settings poses a significant threat to public health. The major reasons for nosocomial spread of these species are their abilities to develop and transfer drug resistance against various classes of antibiotics. Considering that Acinetobacter spp. are ubiquitous in nature, can utilize several carbon sources, and reach humans via various pathways, our aim was to obtain information about the environmental strains of this genus. Our first step was to develop and test a multistep isolation procedure based on traditional scientific methods. Antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolated strains were determined, as susceptibility to 12 antibiotics of 7 classes was tested by MIC Test Strip method. Altogether 366 samples (groundwater, surface water, and soil) of 24 sites were investigated and a collection of 37 Acinetobacter isolates was obtained. Among others, clinically important human pathogen Acinetobacter spp., such as A. baumannii, A. johnsonii, and A. gyllenbergii were identified. Three environmental strains were determined as multidrug-resistant including a carbapenem-resistant, hemolytic Acinetobacter beijerinckii strain isolated from a hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater sample. In summary, it has been found that the applied multistep isolation procedure is applicable to isolate various species of Acinetobacter genus. Based on the antibiotic resistance assay, we can conclude that environmental representatives of Acinetobacter spp. are able to develop multidrug resistance, but at a lower rate than their clinical counterparts.

Esters from Bacterial Oxidation of Olefins

Identification of esters isolated from culture fluids of bacteria growing upon terminal olefins indicates that bacteria oxidize olefins at the saturated methyl group, leaving the double bond intact. The yeast Candida lipolytica produces alpha-glycols from olefins, presumably by attacking the double bond.

ORIGIN OF PALMITIC ACID CARBON IN PALMITATES FORMED FROM HEXADECANE-1-C-14 AND TETRADECANE-1-C-14 BY MICROCOCCUS CERIFICANS

Finnerty, W. R. (University of Iowa, Iowa City), and R. E. Kallio. Origin of palmitic acid carbon in palmitates formed from hexadecane-1-C(14) and tetradecane-1-C(14) by Micrococcus cerificans. J. Bacteriol. 87:1261-1265. 1964.-Degradation of the palmitic acid moiety of cetyl palmitate and myristyl palmitate formed from hexadecane-1-C(14) and tetradecane-1-C(14) by Micrococcus cerificans was carried out. The patterns of C(14) labeling in palmitic acid from cetyl palmitate showed that hexadecane is oxidized at the C(1) position, and cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid thus formed are directly esterified. Palmitic acid arising from tetradecane and esterified to tetradecanol appeared to have been synthesized by the addition of two carbon atoms to an existing 14-carbon atom skeleton. Considerable mixing of C(14) occurred in the C(1) and C(2) positions of palmitic acid thus synthesized.

METHYL KETONE METABOLISM IN HYDROCARBON-UTILIZING MYCOBACTERIA

Lukins, H. B. (University of Texas, Austin) and J. W. Foster. Methyl ketone metabolism in hydrocarbon-utilizing mycobacteria. J. Bacteriol. 85: 1074-1087. 1963.-Species of Mycobacterium especially M. smegmatis 422, produced the homologous methyl ketones during the oxidation of propane, n-butane, n-pentane, or n-hexane. A carrier-trapping experiment demonstrated the formation of 2-undecanone, as well as 1,11-undecanedioic acid, during the oxidation of undecane-1-C(14). Aliphatic alkane-utilizing mycobacteria were able to grow at the expense of several aliphatic methyl ketones as sole sources of carbon. Other ketones which did not support growth were oxidized by resting bacterial suspensions. M. smegmatis 422 cells grown on propane or acetone were simultaneously adapted to oxidize both substrates, as well as n-propanol. n-Propanol cells were unadapted to propane or acetone. Acetone produced from propane in a medium enriched in D(2)O contained a negligible quantity of D, presumably eliminating propylene as an intermediate in the oxidation. Cells grown at the expense of alkanes or methyl ketones in the presence of O(2) (18) had a higher content of O(18) than did cells grown on terminally oxidized compounds, e.g., primary alcohols or fatty acids. An oxygenase reaction is postulated for the attack on methyl ketones. Acetol was isolated and characterized as an oxidation product of acetone by M. smegmatis 422. Acetol-grown cells had a higher O(18) content than did n-propanol cells, and its utilization appears to involve at least one oxygenase reaction. Acetol produced from acetone in the presence of O(2) (18) was not enriched in the isotope, indicating the occurrence of exchange reactions or of oxygenation reactions at a later stage in the assimilation of acetone and acetol.

MICROBIAL INCORPORATION OF FATTY ACIDS DERIVED FROM N-ALKANES INTO GLYCERIDES AND WAXES

When n-alkanes with 13 to 20 carbon atoms were fed to a Nocardia closely related to N. salmonicolor, the produced cellular triglycerides and aliphatic waxes invariably contained fatty acids with an even or an odd number of carbon atoms subject to this feature of the n-alkane substrate. Beta-oxidation and C(2) addition are both operative, as evidenced by the spectra of fatty acids incorporated into the cellular lipid components. There is no distinction in the rate of microbial incorporation of the odd-or even-numbered carbon chains. The fatty acids are apparently directly derived from the long chain n-alkanes, rather than synthesized via the classic C(2)-condensation route. The alcohol component of waxes produced by the Nocardia is invariably of the same chain length as the n-alkane substrate.

DITERMINAL OXIDATION OF LONG-CHAIN ALKANES BY BACTERIA

Kester, A. S. (The University of Texas, Austin) and J. W. Foster. Diterminal oxidation of long-chain alkanes by bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 85:859-869. 1963.-A corynebacterial organism capable of growing in mineral salts with individual pure alkanes as carbon sources produces a series of acids from the C(10)-C(14) alkanes. They have been isolated in pure form and identified as monoic, omega-hydroxy monoic, and dioic acids containing the same number of carbon atoms as the substrate alkane. Oxidation took place at both terminal methyl groups-"diterminal oxidation." Appropriate labeling experiments indicate that omega oxidation of fatty acids occurs in this organism and that an oxygenation with O(2) occurs.

Surface-Active Agents from Two Bacillus Species

Two Bacillus species were studied which produced bioemulsifiers; however, they were distinctly different compounds. Bacillus sp. strain IAF 343 produced unusually high yields of extracellular biosurfactant when grown on a medium containing only water-soluble substrates. The yield of 1 g/liter was appreciably better than those of most of the biosurfactants reported previously. This neutral lipid product, unlike most lipid biosurfactants, had significant emulsifying properties. It did not appreciably lower the surface tension of water. On the same medium, Bacillus cereus IAF 346 produced a more conventional polysaccharide bioemulsifier, but it also produced a monoglyceride biosurfactant. The bioemulsifier contained substantial amounts of glucosamine and originated as part of the capsule layer. The monoglyceride lowered the surface tension of water to 28 mN/m. It formed a strong association with the polysaccharide, and it was necessary to use ultrafiltration to effect complete separation. The removal of the monoglyceride caused the polysaccharide to precipitate. It is suggested that earlier reports of biopolymers which both stabilized emulsions and lowered surface tension were actually similar aggregates of lipid and bioemulsifier.

Analysis of corynomycolic acids and other fatty acids produced by Corynebacterium lepus grown on kerosene

The saponifiable carboxylic acids of the extracellular product of Corynebacterium lepus grown on kerosene have been isolated and characterized. About 25% of these acids were a mixture of simple, saturated fatty acids ranging from C13 to C24 and including both even and odd homologues. The distribution of these acids was bimodal, with maxima at C15 and C21. The other 75% of the acids was a mixture of corynomycolic acids [R1--CH(OH)--CH(R2)--COOH] ranging from C28 to C43. The R1 alkyl fragments varied from C16 to C25, and R2 fragments varied from C6 to C14. Both even and odd corynomycolic acid homologues were observed, and the distribution had a single pronounced maximum at C32 and C33. Bacterial utilization of the carboxylic oxidation products of the kerosene substrate is suggested to account for the wide distribution in chain length of these saturated fatty acids and for the observation of both even and odd homologues.

Isolation and characterization of membranes from a hydrocarbon-oxidizing Acinetobacter sp

Membranes were isolated and purified from nutrient broth-yeast extract- and hexadecane-grown cells of Acinetobacter sp. strain HO1-N. Two membrane fractions were isolated from nutrient broth-yeast extract-grown cells, the cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane. In addition to these two membrane fractions, a unique membrane fraction was isolated from hexadecane-grown cells (band 1) and characterized as a lipid-rich, low-density membrane containing high concentrations of hexadecane. The outer membrane preparations of Acinetobacter, obtained from nutrient broth-yeast extract- and hexadecane-grown cells, exhibited a low ratio of lipid phosphorus to protein and contained phospholipase activity and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid. Phosphatidic acid cytidyltransferase, adenosine triphosphatase, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase were recovered almost exclusively in the cytoplasmic membrane fractions. The cytoplasmic membrane fractions contained 20 to 25 polypeptide species on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, and the outer membrane fractions contained 15 to 20 polypeptide species. A major polypeptide species with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 42,000 to 44,000 was found for all outer membrane fractions. The buoyant densities of the cytoplasmic membrane fractions and the outer membrane fractions were closely similar, necessitating their separation by differential centrifugation. Band 1 of hexadecane-grown cells had a ratio of lipid phosphorus to protein that was almost twice that of cytoplasmic membrane and a correspondingly low buoyant density (1.086 g/cm3). Enzyme activities associated with band 1 were identical to those associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The electrophoretic banding pattern of band 1 was essentially identical to the banding pattern of the cytoplasmic membrane. The phospholipid and neutral lipid compositions of the isolated membrane fractions were determined as qualitatively similar, with significant quantitative differences. The ultrastructure characteristics of the respective membrane fractions were examined by the negative-stain technique.

Microbial assimilation of hydrocarbons. I. The fine-structure of a hydrocarbon oxidizing Acinetobacter sp

1. The fine-structure analysis of the hydrocarbon oxidizing microorganism, Acinetobacter sp., demonstrated a cytoplasmic modification resulting from growth on paraffinic and olefinic hydrocarbons. 2. Intracytoplasmic hydrocarbon inclusions were documented by electron microscopy with chemical identifications obtained by gas chromatography and X-ray diffraction. 3. These results demonstrate the ability of a microorganism to accumulate hydrocarbon substrates intracellularly which, in turn, indicates the transport across the cell membrane.

Comparative analysis of the lipids of Acinetobacter species grown on hexadecane

A comparative analysis of the cellular and extracellular lipids of Acinetobacter species HO1-N indicated basic physiological differences in hexadecane-grown cells. The cellular lipids obtained from hexadecane-grown cells were characterized by 3- and 18-fold increases in the phospholipid fraction and the mono- and diglyceride fraction, respectively, over that obtained from nutrient broth-yeast extract-grown cells. The cellular-associated pools of hexadecane were shown to comprise approximately 8% of the dry cell weight of hexadecane-grown cells. The extracellular lipids obtained from the culture broths of hexadecane-grown cells were comprised of triglyceride, mono- and diglyceride, free fatty acid, and wax ester. These lipids were either absent or present in minor concentrations in the culture broths of nutrient broth-yeast extract-grown cells. The exponential growth of Acinetobacter sp. on hexadecane was characterized by the significant accumulation of free fatty acid, monoglyceride, and diglyceride in the culture medium. Wax ester was shown to represent a minor portion of the extracellular lipids during the exponential growth phase, appearing in significant proportion only after the culture had entered the stationary phase of growth.

Identification of n-decane oxidation products in Corynebacterium cultures by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique was employed to characterize n-decane oxidation products of Corynebacterium strains 7E1C and 269 (SNAM Progetti collection) after 73 h of incubation at 35 C. Corynebacterium 7E1C accumulated consistent amounts of esters of long chain acids with long chain alcohols, mainly decyldecanoate as well as products with mono- and diterminal carboxylic functions. Corynebacterium 269 yielded 1-decanol and 1-10 decanediol as principal oxidation products.

Metabolism of n-butane and 2-butanone by Mycobacterium vaccae

n-Butane was metabolized in Mycobacterium vaccae (JOB5) via terminal oxidation. This organism metabolized 2-butanone through propionate (or propionyl coenzyme A). Subterminal oxidation in M. vaccae was apparently limited to propane.

Oxidation of n-tetradecane and 1-tetradecene by fungi

Cunninghamella blakesleeana (minus strain) and a Penicillium species were grown in a mineral-salts medium containing either n-tetradecane or 1-tetradecene as substrate, and ether extracts of the mycelial mats were analyzed for oxidation products. Extracts from Cunninghamella revealed tetradecanoic acid and 13-tetradecenoic acid from the oxidation of n-tetradecane and 1-tetradecene, respectively, thereby indicating that these hydrocarbons were subject to methyl group oxidation. In contrast to Cunninghamella, the Penicillium oxidized the two substrates by subterminal attacks on methylene rather than methyl groups. This was evidenced by tentative identifications of the following alcohols and ketones from oxidation of the hydrocarbons: tetradecan-2-ol, dodecan-1-ol, tetradecan-2-one, and tetradecan-4-one from n-tetradecane, and tetradecen-4-ol, 13-tetradecen-4-ol, tetradecen-3-ol, 13-tetradecen-4-one, and tetradecen-3-one from 1-tetradecene. A pathway for hydrocarbon oxidation is proposed for subterminal oxidation at the methylene alpha to the methyl group.

Divergent metabolic pathways for propane and propionate utilization by a soil isolate

The metabolism of propane and propionate by a soil isolate (Brevibacterium sp. strain JOB5) was investigated. The presence of isocitrate lyase in cells grown on isopropanol, acetate, or propane and the absence of this inducible enzyme in n-propanol- and propionate-grown cells suggested that propane is not metabolized via C-terminal oxidation. Methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase and malate synthase are constitutive in this organism. The incorporation of (14)CO(2) into pyruvate accumulated during propionate utilization suggests that propionate is metabolized via the methyl-malonyl-succinate pathway. These results were further substantiated by radiorespirometric studies with propionate-1-(14)C, -2-(14)C, and -3-(14)C as substrate. Propane -2-(14)C was shown, by unlabeled competitor experiments, to be oxidized to acetone; acetone and isopropanol are oxidized in this organism to acetol. Cleavage of acetol to acetate and CO(2) would yield the inducer for the isocitrate lyase present in propane-grown cells.