Abstract
1. 1. Fatty acids were isolated from bacteria of the family Beggiatoaceae and closely related to the genus Thiothrix. These bacteria are symbionts that live in the gut of Echinocardium cordatum. 2. 2. Ten pronounced chromatographic peaks were observed that correspond to 14:0, 15:0, 15:0, 16:0, 16:1, 17:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:3 and 19:0 fatty acids. 3. 3. The fatty acid 18:3 had a retention time and mass spectrum identical to those of linolenic acid. 4. 4. The presence of an essential fatty acid has never before been reported in a non-photosynthetic organism. This essential fatty acid in the symbiotic bacteria could be of nutritional importance for their echinoid host. 5. 5. The presence of this essential fatty acid supports a phylogenetic affinity between Beggiatoaceae and Cyanobacteria that are the only bacteria known to synthetize linolenic polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA).
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