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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2000, p. 4462-4467, Vol. 66, No. 10
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Microbial Degradation of the Multiply Branched Alkane 2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane (Squalane) by Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium ratisbonense

Mahmoud M. Berekaa and Alexander Steinbüchel*

Institut für Mikrobiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany

Received 13 March 2000/Accepted 26 July 2000

Among several bacterial species belonging to the general Gordonia, Mycobacterium, Micromonospora, Pseudomonas, and Rhodococcus, only two mycobacterial isolates, Mycobacterium fortuitum strain NF4 and the new isolate Mycobacterium ratisbonense strain SD4, which was isolated from a sewage treatment plant, were capable of utilizing the multiply branched hydrocarbon squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane) and its analogous unsaturated hydrocarbon squalene as the sole carbon source for growth. Detailed degradation studies and high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis showed a clear decrease of the concentrations of squalane and squalene during biomass increase. These results were supported by resting-cell experiments using strain SD4 and squalane or squalene as the substrate. The degradation of acyclic isoprenoids and alkanes as well as of acids derived from these compounds was also investigated. Inhibition of squalane and squalene degradation by acrylic acid indicated the possible involvement of beta -oxidation in the degradation route. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the biodegradation of squalane by using defined axenic cultures.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany. Phone: 49 (251) 8339821. Fax: 49 (251) 8338388. E-mail: steinbu{at}uni-muenster.de.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2000, p. 4462-4467, Vol. 66, No. 10
0099-2240/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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