RESUMEN
The fatty acid composition of the lipids of a Wautersia eutropha polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing strain was studied by chromato-mass spectrometry. A total of 27 fatty acids were identified; their distribution in the cell fractions was determined. In the cytoplasmic membrane, palmitic, palmitoleic, and cis-vaccenic acids were the major components. Long-chain beta-hydroxy acids and myristic acid (components of the lipopolysaccharides of the cell envelope) predominated in the fraction of strongly bound lipids. When the polymer was actively synthesized, the content of cyclopropane acids in the easily extracted lipids increased and the content of the corresponding monoenoic acids decreased. The strongly bound lipids had a high content of long-chain beta-hydroxy acids (more than 50% of the total fatty acids). These results made it possible to determine the source of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) contamination and to choose the strategy for their purification.
