Effects of crude oil on phospholipid fatty acid compositions of marine hydrocarbon degraders: estimation of the bacterial membrane fluidity

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 300 - 311
• Main Authors: Mazzella, N., Syakti, A.D., Molinet, J., Gilewicz, M., Doumenq, P., Artaud, J., Bertrand, J.-C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.03.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Action of physical and chemical agents on bacteria; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Corynebacterium; Corynebacterium - drug effects; Corynebacterium - metabolism; Corynebacterium sp; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fresh water environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Homeoviscous adaptation; Humans; Marine sediment; Membrane Fluidity; Microbiology; Petroleum; Petroleum - toxicity; Phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids; Phospholipids - metabolism; Phospholipid ester-linked fatty acids; Biodegradation; Marine sediment; Homeoviscous adaptation; Petroleum; Corynebacterium sp; Hydrocarbon; Toxicity; Phospholipid; Lipids; Fatty acids; In vitro; Marine environment; Corynebacterium; Fluidity; Crude oil; Bacteria; Membrane; Actinomycetes; Corynebacteriaceae; Bioremediation
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2004.06.007

In this study, we investigated, in vitro, the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on the phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid composition of Corynebacterium sp. Strain 8. The usual ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids E/Z (or trans/cis) was calculated. This ratio led to unexpected results because we found similar values for growths on either a hydrophobic substrate (crude oil) or a soluble carbon source (rich medium). The use of such an indicator seemed limited for monitoring an environmental stress, so we proposed an index based on the homeoviscous adaptation theory. A membrane viscosity index was defined and applied to Corynebacterium sp. Strain 8 (in vitro growth) and to a sedimentary community (in situ experiment). The results allowed us to estimate the membrane fluidity of both an isolated strain and a bacterial community in accordance with the medium hydrophobicity.