Occurrence and taxonomic significance of oxo-fatty acids in lipopolysaccharides from members of Mesorhizobium

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) isolated from seven strains of Mesorhizobium were studied for the presence of fatty acids with particular attention for 27-oxooctacosanoic acid and 4-oxo fatty acids. The LPSs from all analysed strains contained various amounts of 27-oxo-28:0 and all of them, with the exception of Mesorhizobium tianshanense, contained also 4-oxo fatty acids (4-oxo-20:0, 4-oxo-i-21:0, 4-oxo-22:0). The group of amide-linked fatty acids consisted of a wide range of 3-hydroxylated and 4-oxo fatty acids whereas all the nonpolar as well as the (omega-1) hydroxylated long-chain acids and the 27-oxo-28:0 fatty acids were ester-linked. The characteristic spectrum of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and presence of 27-OH-28:0 as well as 27-oxo-28:0 acid in LPSs of Mesorhizobium showed that these strains were closely related. Therefore the lipid A fatty acid pattern could be a useful chemotaxonomic marker which helps to isolate the Mesorhizobium group from rhizobium bacteria during the classification process.