INFLUENCE OF GROWTH TEMPERATURE ON COMPOSITIONS OF CAROTENOIDS AND FATTY-ACIDS FROM CAROTENOID GLUCOSIDE ESTER AND FROM CELLULAR LIPIDS IN RHODOCOCCUS-RHODOCHROUS RNMS1

The influence of growth temperature (21-41-degrees-C) and light intensity on compositions of four carotenoids, and of fatty acids from carotenoid glucoside ester (carotenoid K-G-FA) and from the cellular lipids in Rhodococcus rhodochrous RNMS1 were quantitatively investigated. Lowering the temperature increased the total carotenoid content and the proportion of carotenoid K-G-FA. It increased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in both carotenoid K-G-FA and the cellular lipids, decreased that of saturated ones, and slightly decreased that of branched-chain ones. This bacterium adapted itself to low temperature by desaturating its fatty acids. The light intensity affected neither the content and the composition of carotenoids nor the composition of the fatty acids in carotenoid K-G-FA and the cellular lipids. This bacterium was a scotochromogenic strain.