GC-MS ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF HALOBACTERIUM BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS HSW-16 UNDER VARYING SALINITY CONDITION

Abstract

The salt concentration have a pronounced effect on fatty acid composition, therefore the adaption of fatty acid composition of a halophilic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis HSW-16, grown at different concentration of NaCl (0 mM, 150 mM, 175 mM, 200 mM) was studied. The common fatty acid observed at various salt concentration were tetratriacontane, triacontane, tetracosane and pentacosane etc..As the salinity increases from 150 mM to 200 mM, the bacterium started to accumulating the long chain alkanes and fatty alcohol, suggesting the adaption of bacterium through accumulation varying fatty acids for counteracting the increased salinity and maintaining its osmotic balance in the changing environment