Comparison of the fatty acids of the tunicateBotryllus schlosseri from the Black Sea with two associated bacterial strains

The fatty acid composition of the tunicateBotryllus schlosseri and of two bacterial strains found within the tunicate, namelyVibrio parahaemolyticus and of an associated but previously unreported gram positive cocci were studied. The polyunsaturated fatty acids 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid, 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, and 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid were particularly abundant inB. schlosseri and were not detected in the two bacterial strains found in the tunicate. Theiso/anteiso pair, 13-methyltetradecanoic acid and 12-methyltetradecanoic acid, were the principal fatty acids in the gram positive cocci, and the 9- and 11-hexadecenoic acids were particulary abundant inV. parahaemolyticus. The diunsaturated fatty acid 9,12-octadecadienoic acid was also shown to be present inV. parahaemolyticus. The fatty acid composition of a third bacterial strain, characterized as either aPseudomonas or anAlteromonas species, and shown to be present only in the sea water from the Black Sea and not inB. schlosseri, is also reported. This is the first investigation on fatty acids from Black Sea bacteria.