Cellular Fatty Acids of Alteromonas Species

The fatty acid (FA) compositions of 7 type strains and 9 strains isolated from the marine environment, defined by general microbiological methods as members of the genus Alteromonas, were characterized by capillary gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) on polar and non-polar columns. Thirty fatty acids with concentrations exceeding 0.1% were identified, with 16:1(n-7), 16:0, 17:1, 15:0, 18:1(n-7) and 17:0 acids as main components. Principal coordinate analysis of fatty acid data have shown that the majority of the type strains and marine species, identified as Alteromonas sp., formed one group, without species separation. These findings, as well as low amounts of branched chain and hydroxy fatty acids, and an absence of cyclopropane fatty acids in Alteromonas, provides characteristic features for conveniently distinguishing members of this genus from Pseudomonas and other morphologically similar species.