Microbial Conversion of Vegetable Oil to Rare Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Fatty Alcohols by an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis> Isolate

We isolated two new microorganisms capable of converting vegetable oil to several rare unsaturated fatty acids and rare unsaturated fatty alcohols from a soil sample. The strains were identified as belonging to the same genus and species, Aeromonas hydrophila. The rare unsaturated fatty acids and rare unsaturated fatty alcohols were accumulated as a wax ester form by the strains. Compared to other strains, the A. hydrophila isolates effectively decreased fatty acid chain lengths and converted rapeseed oil, which is rich in 9-C18:1 fatty acid, into rare fatty acids, such as 7-C16:1 fatty acid and 5-C14:1 fatty acid. Furthermore, the A. hydrophila isolates converted the resulting fatty acids to rare unsaturated fatty alcohols, such as 7-C16:1 fatty alcohol and 5-C14:1 fatty alcohol. The isolates also converted safflower oil, which is rich in 9,12-C18:2 fatty acid, to 7,10-C16:2 fatty acid, 5,8-C14:2 fatty acid, 9,12-C18:2 fatty alcohol, 7,10-C16:2 fatty alcohol, and 5,8-C14:2 fatty alcohol. 7,10,13-C16:3 fatty acid, 9,12,15-C18:3 fatty alcohol, and 7,10,13-C16:3 fatty alcohol were also converted from linseed oil, which is rich in 9,12,15-C18:3 fatty acid, by the A. hydrophila isolates. These fatty acids and fatty alcohols are rarely found in natural oils. Since decreasing fatty acid carbon chain lengths from the carboxyl end and reducing unsaturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty alcohols are both difficult reactions to accomplish by chemical means, we suggest that these A. hydrophila isolates may facilitate introduction of new bioprocess for producing rare unsaturated fatty acids and rare unsaturated fatty alcohols, especially fatty alcohols harboring more than two double bonds.