Evidence for the synthesis of the multi-positional isomers of monounsaturated fatty acid inMethylococcus capsusatusby the anaerobic pathway

The biosynthesis of the positional isomers of the monounsaturated fatty acids of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) has been investigated by studying the incorporation of [2-14C]malonyl CoA into long-chain fatty acids in vitro. The major unsaturated products were delta 9 16 : 1 and delta 11 18 : 1; however, delta 8, delta 10, and delta 11, 16 : 1, as well as, delta 10, delta 12 and delta 13 18 : 1 were also synthesized. The exclusion of O2 from the reaction vessel did not affect the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids or the double bonds positions. Cerulenin inhibited the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acid more than saturated fatty acid. The use of both [1-14C] octanoate and [1-14C] decanote as substrate resulted in the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids, however, unsaturates were only synthesized from octanoate. These results imply that the unique positional isomers of M. capsulatus are not synthesized by an aerobic mechanism.