title: Characterisation of Pseudomonas rhamnolipids.
abstract: The Gram negative organism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is often found in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis and other forms of severe bronchiectasis, where it secretes a number of extracellular toxins including the mono- and dirhamnolipids. The principal monorhamnolipid from P. aeruginosa has previously been identified as rhamnosyl-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoate (Rh-C10.C10). A number of related mono- and dirhamnolipids have been purified from cultures of a clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa and identified by fast atom bombardment and electron impact mass spectrometry: these contain the 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoate (C8.C10) and 3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydodecanoate (C10.C12) homologues. Structural isomers were also present where the order of the lipid linkage was transposed (Rh-C10.C8 and Rh-C12.C10). Unsaturated mono- and dirhamnolipids containing the 3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydodec-5-enoate (C10.C12:1) lipid were also present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Rendell
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Somerville
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D006017:Glycolipids / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids