Characterization of Fatty Acids in Crenarchaeota by GC-MS and NMR

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 2015 · Archaea

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/472726 · OSTI ID:1234125

Hamerly, Timothy ^[1]; Tripet, Brian ^[1]; Wurch, Louie ^[2]; Hettich, Robert L. ^[3]; Podar, Mircea ^[2]; Bothner, Brian ^[4]; Copié, Valérie ^[4]

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1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
4. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

Lipids composed of condensed isoprenyl units connected to glycerol backbones by ether linkages are a distinguishing feature of Archaea. Data suggesting that fatty acids with linear hydrocarbon chains are present in some Archaea have been available for decades. However, lack of genomic and biochemical evidence for the metabolic machinery required to synthesize and degrade fatty acids has left the field unclear on this potentially significant biochemical aspect. Because lipids are energy currency and cell signaling molecules, their presence in Archaea is significant for understanding archaeal biology. A recent large-scale bioinformatics analysis reignited the debate as to the importance of fatty acids in Archaea by presenting genetic evidence for the presence of enzymes required for anabolic and catabolic fatty acid metabolism across the archaeal domain. Here, we present direct biochemical evidence from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the presence of fatty acids in two members of the Crenarchaeota,Sulfolobus solfataricusandIgnicoccus hospitalis. This is the first report providing biochemical data for the existence of fatty acids in these Crenarchaeota, opening new discussions on energy balance and the potential for the discovery of new thermostable enzymes for industry.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0006654
• OSTI ID: 1234125
• Journal Information: Archaea, Journal Name: Archaea Vol. 2015; ISSN 1472-3646
• Publisher: HindawiCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English