This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vater, J. Articles by Cameotra, S. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vater, J. Articles by Cameotra, S. S. Agricola Articles by Vater, J. Articles by Cameotra, S. S.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry of Lipopeptide Biosurfactants in Whole Cells and Culture Filtrates of Bacillus subtilis C-1 Isolated from Petroleum Sludge

Institut für Chemie, Arbeitsgruppe Biochemie und Molekulare Biologie, Technische Universität Berlin, D-10587 Berlin,¹ Institut für Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, D-14195 Berlin, Germany,² Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector 39A, Chandigarh-160 036, India³

Received 6 May 2002/ Accepted 1 August 2002

An innovative method was developed for rapid sensitive detection and efficient structural characterization of lipopeptide biosurfactants by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry by using whole microbial cells and crude culture filtrates as targets in combination with surface tension measurements. This was done for a bacterial strain that was isolated from petroleum sludge and efficiently produces biosurfactants. This organism was identified by using biochemical, physiological, and genetic parameters as a Bacillus subtilis strain, designated B. subtilis C-1. This assignment was supported by a mass spectrometric investigation of the secondary metabolite spectrum determined by whole-cell MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, which revealed three lipopeptide complexes, the surfactins, the iturins, and the fengycins, which are well-known biosurfactants produced by B. subtilis strains. These compounds were structurally characterized by in situ structure analysis by using postsource decay MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The isoforms were separated by miniaturized high-resolution reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for mass spectrometric characterization. Iturin compounds which contain unusual fatty acid components were detected.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Koumoutsi, A., Chen, X.-H., Henne, A., Liesegang, H., Hitzeroth, G., Franke, P., Vater, J., Borriss, R. (2004). Structural and Functional Characterization of Gene Clusters Directing Nonribosomal Synthesis of Bioactive Cyclic Lipopeptides in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Strain FZB42. J. Bacteriol. 186: 1084-1096 [Abstract] [Full Text]