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A THIN‐LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR SEPARATING METHYL ESTERS OF MYCOBACTERIAL MYCOLIC ACIDS
Author(s) -
ValeroGuillÉN P.,
MartinLuengo F.,
Jimenez J.,
Larsson L.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
acta pathologica microbiologica scandinavica series b: microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0108-0180
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1986.tb03070.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , mycolic acid , chromatography , dichloromethane , saponification , methanol , methylation , acetone , organic chemistry , petroleum ether , ether , thin layer chromatography , solvent , mycobacterium , biochemistry , extraction (chemistry) , biology , bacteria , genetics , gene
A two‐dimensional thin‐layer chromatographic method was developed which allowed separation of the different mycobacterial mycolic acids as methyl esters. Dichloromethane (once) and petroleum ether:acetone (95:5, v/v twice or three times) were used as solvents. Alkaline saponification of freeze‐dried cells followed by methylation of the mycolic acids using iodomethane gave satisfactory results, whereas methylation using boron trichloride‐methanol complex or trans‐esterification through direct acid methanolysis was found to degrade epoxy‐mycolates. The chromatographic method developed here is rapid and informative, and should prove valuable in routine mycobacterial differentiation.