Aliphatic hydrocarbon contents of various members of the family micrococcaceae

Abstract The composition and nature of the hydrocarbons of various members of the family Micrococcaceae were studied by gas chromatography. The hydrocarbons found inSarcina lutea strains,Sarcina flava, Sarcina subflava, Micrococcus lysodeikticus strains and their transformed hybrids consisted of monounsaturated hydrocarbons showing either iso or anteiso methyl branching. The hydrocarbons of the various organisms differed in the range of hydrocarbon distribution, the relative proportions of the major hydrocarbon fractions and the individual components within each fraction.Staphylococcus aureus strains andGaffkya tetragena contained no appreciable quantities of hydrocarbons. The fatty acid compositions of theSarcina species, Micrococcus lysodeikticus strains and the strains derived by transformation were qualitatively identical.Staphylococcus aureus andGaffkya tetragena showed similar fatty acid patterns that were different from those ofSarcina andMicrococcus. A taxonomic relationship between these organisms was established on the basis of the hydrocarbon compositions.