ARS | Publication request: BIOCATALYTIC PRODUCTION OF POLYHYDROXY UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS

Submitted to: Society of Industrial Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 6, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Hydroxy fatty acids are important industrial materials derived from vegetable oils. We have been investigating the production of monohydroxy and polyhydroxy fatty acids from vegetable oils and their component fatty acids through biocatalysis. Microbial enzymes can produce not only mono hydroxy but also di- or tri-hydroxy fatty acids. We discovered that a new microbial isolate, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 produced 7S,10S-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) from oleic acid. The synthetic pathway includes an intermediate, 10S-hydroxy-8(E)- octadecenoic acid. We also found that this PR3 system converted ricinoleic acid to a new compound, 7,10,12-trihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid. Furthermore, we discovered that another new microbial isolate, Clavibacter sp. ALA2 produced 12,13,17-trihydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid (THOA) from linoleic acid. The structures of these hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids resemble those of plant self-defense substances. On anti- pathogens activity tests, we found that DOD inhibited the growth of C. albican but did not inhibit the growth of A. flavus, A. fumigatus, C. neoformans, and M. infracellulare. We also found that at 200 ppm concentration, THOA inhibited growth of some plant pathogenic fungi such as wheat powdery mildew and wheat leaf rust. Through biocatalysis, a large quantity of these bioactive polyhydroxy unsaturated fatty acid products can be obtained.