INVESTIGADORES
ALVAREZ Hector Manuel
artículos
Título:
Triacylglycerols in prokaryotic microorganisms.
Autor/es:
ALVAREZ, H. M.; STEINBÜCHEL A,
Revista:
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Editorial:
Springer Verlag
Referencias:
Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2002 vol. 60 p. 367 - 376
ISSN:
0175-7598
Resumen:
Abstract Triacylglycerols (TAG) are fatty acid triesters
of glycerol; there are diverse types of TAG with different
properties depending on their fatty acid composition. The
occurrence of TAG as reserve compounds is widespread
among eukaryotic organisms such as yeast, fungi, plants
and animals, whereas occurrence of TAG in bacteria has
only rarely been described. However, accumulation of
TAG seems to be widespread among bacteria belonging
to the actinomycetes group, such as species of Mycobacterium,
Streptomyces, Rhodococcus and Nocardia. Fatty
acids in acylglycerols in cells of Rhodococcus opacus
PD630 accounted for up to 87% of the cellular dry
weight. TAG biosynthesis, justifying an oleaginous status,
seems to be restricted mainly to this group of bacteria, but
occurs to a minor extent also in a few other bacteria. The
compositions and structures of bacterial TAG vary
considerably depending on the microorganism and on
the carbon source, and unusual acyl moieties, such as
phenyldecanoic acid and 4,8,12 trimethyl tridecanoic
acid, are also included. The principal function of bacterial
TAG seems to be as a reserve compound. Other functions
that have been discussed include regulation of cellular
membrane fluidity by keeping unusual fatty acids away
from membrane phospholipids, or acting as a sink for
reducing equivalents. In recent years, basic aspects of the
physiology and biochemistry of bacterial TAG accumulation,
and the molecular biology of the lipid inclusion
bodies have been reported. TAG are used for nutritional,
therapeutic and pharmaceutical purposes and serve
as asource of oleochemicals.