Open AccessAmphoteric surfactant N ‐oleoyl‐ N ‐methyltaurine utilized by Pseudomonas alcaligenes with excretion of N ‐methyltaurine
Author(s) -
Denger Karin,
Mayer Jutta,
Hollemeyer Klaus,
Cook Alasdair M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2008.01341.x
Subject(s) - bacteria , moiety , excretion , chemistry , hydrolysis , pulmonary surfactant , energy source , biochemistry , alcaligenes , biodegradation , carbon source , amidase , pseudomonas , pseudomonadaceae , biology , chromatography , organic chemistry , coal , genetics
The amphoteric surfactant N ‐oleoyl‐ N ‐methyltaurine, which is in use in skin‐care products, was utilized by aerobic bacteria as the sole source of carbon or of nitrogen in enrichment cultures. One isolate, which was identified as Pseudomonas alcaligene s, grew with the xenobiotic compound as the sole source of carbon and energy. The sulfonate moiety, N ‐methyltaurine, was excreted quantitatively during growth, while the fatty acid was dissimilated. The initial degradative reaction was shown to be hydrolytic and inducible. This amidase reaction could be demonstrated with crude cell extracts. The excreted N ‐methyltaurine could be utilized by other bacteria in cocultures. Complete degradation of similar natural compounds in bacterial communities seems likely.