Extracellular accumulation of mono- and di-succinoyl trehalose lipids by a strain of Rhodococcus erythropolis grown on n-alkanes.

Abstract

A bacterium, strain Sd-74, which was isolated from soil under alkaline conditions, was found to abundantly produce acidic exolipids from n-alkanes. The strain proved to be alkali-resistant rather than alkalophilic and was identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis.The acidic exolipids (15 g) were isolated from culture broth (11) containing n-hexadecane as the sole carbon source and were found to be composed of two new succinoyl trehalose lipids (STL-1 and STL-2). After purification, STL-1 showed mp 169 to 171°C and (c = 0.6, CHC13/MeOH = 2:1), and STL-2 mp 161 to 163°C and (c = 0.6, CHCl3/MeOH = 2:1). On the basis of the results of chemical degradation and methylation, STL-1 and STL-2 were concluded to be 2,3,4,2′-di-6>-succinoyl-di-O-alkanoyl-a,a-trehalose and 2,3,4-mono-O-succinoyl-di-O-alkanoyl-a,a-trehalose, respectively.