478 Marine Microbiology 



FLAME IONIZATION 



I 



2-METHYLHEXANOlC 



/-VALERIC 



5-METHYLHEXANOIC 



TIME 



CHROMATOGRAM OF FATTY ACIDS FROM 



2 - METHYLHEXANE INCUBATION WITH 



HEPTANE -GROWN PSEUDOMONAS CELLS 



6f. 03.1090 



FIGURE 1 



n-Heptane-, as well as 2-methylhexane adapted cells were 

 incubated with 2-methylliexane in one-liter flasks containing 200 

 ml of mineral medium. The flasks were stoppered and the oxygen 

 supply, therefore, was restricted. After sixteen hours of incuba- 

 tion the cells were harvested and the liquid analysed for traces 

 of fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography of their methyl 

 esters. 



Figure 1 shows the recorder tracing in an experiment where 

 heptane adapted cells were used. 



Three peaks were identified by addition of model compounds, 

 mz. 2-, and 5-methylhexanoic acids as well as wo-valeric acid. 

 Consequently, we must assume that heptane-adapted cells oxidize 

 the Ci as well as the d-terminal methyl group. The /50-\^aleric 

 acid must have arisen from /^-oxidation of 5-methylhexanoic acid 

 and - in addition - we know from the multiple adaptation experi- 



