Abstract: | The biosynthesis of biotin-vitamers from unsaturated higher fatty acids by the resting cell system of bacteria was investigated. Biotin-vitamer formation from oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids was found in certain bacteria belonging to the genera Enterobacter, Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia and Micrococcus. The biotin-vitamers were identified as a mixture of 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid, desthiobiotin and biotin. Metabolites other than biotin-vitamers from those fatty acids were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Linoleic, oleic, C-17 and C-15 saturated fatty acids were identified as the main metabolites of linolenic acid. The pathway of biosynthesis of pimelic acid from linolenic acid by a strain of Bacillus sphaericus AKU 0227 was also studied. |