Abstract
Two kinds of 2-alkyl-3-hydroxy fatty acids having definite alkyl chain lengths (carbon number=16 and 24) were synthesized as they have similar chemical structures to those of natural-ly-occurring corynomycolic acids as microbial biosurfactants from a hydrocarbon-assimilat-ing microorganisms. Their surface-active properties were very good, particularly in regard to surface and interfacial tension lowering, and penetrating and emulsifying acition. These acids were compared for their alkyl chain lengths. The membrane fluidity of hydrocarbon-assimilat-ing microorganism (Candida bombicola) was found to increase on adding of corynomycolic acids (4a, 4a-Na, 4b, and 4b-Na) using the ESR spin probe method. Aqueous solutions of corynomycolic acids wetted remarkably polymer surfaces such as polyethylene terephthalate (critical surface tension=43mN/m) as microbial surface models. From these results, hydroca-rbon-assimilating microorganism may be concluded to take in small droplets of hydrocarbon emulsions inside their cells in close contact with emulsions through the mediation of corynomyc-olic acids.
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