title: Isolation and characterization of unsaturated fatty acids during bacteriorhodopsin preparation from Halobacterium halobium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Isolation and characterization of unsaturated fatty acids during bacteriorhodopsin preparation from Halobacterium halobium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Halobacterium halobium was cultivated in a composite medium. Cells were collected by centrifugation followed by ultrasonic disruption, and the resulting suspension was subject to centrifugation for preparation of both pellet and supernatant. The pellet was saved in order to prepare bacteriorhodopsin, while the supernatant was used for the isolation of crude fatty acids by saponification and extraction. Crystallization then took place in acetone at -16 degrees C to remove fatty acids in which the carbon chain length was shorter than 13. The sample was obtained after purification and analysed by gas chromatography. The results demonstrated that Halobacterium halobium could synthesize multiple unsaturated fatty acids, particularly the three important polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid (1.12%), eicosapentaenoic acid (16.76%) and docosahexaenoic acid (9.38%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Important unsaturated fatty acids were isolated and characterized from the waste, which was produced during the preparation of bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium halobium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Halobacterium halobium has already been used for decades to prepare bacteriorhodopsin. We found that several important unsaturated fatty acids could be extracted from the bacterial waste, which extends its application scope and might bring additional benefits to humanity.
authors: College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Li
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019617:Halobacterium salinarum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins