Production of polyhydroxy fatty acids from linoleic acid by Clavibacter sp. ALA2

Hydroxy fatty acids are important industrial materials. We isolated a microbial culture, Clavibacter sp. ALA2, which converts linoleic acid to many polyhydroxy fatty acids. Structures of the products were determined as: 12,13,17-trihydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic (THOA, main product), 12-5-ethyl-2-tetrahydrofuranyl]-7,12-dihydroxy-9(Z)-dodecenoic (ETDDA), and 12-5-ethyl-2-tetrahydrofuranyl]-12-hydroxy-9(Z)-dodecenoic (ETHDA) acid. The yield of THOA was 25% and the relative amount of the products were THOA/ETDDA/ETHDA =9:1.3:1. The structures of the hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids resemble those of plant self-defense substances.