Isoprenoid quinone content and cellular fatty acid composition of Campylobacter species

Abstract

Strains of Campylobacter spp. (36) were examined for isoprenoid quinones and cellular fatty acids. The isoprenoid quinone content was determined by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography; the fatty acids were determined by capillary GLC. All Campylobacter spp. contained menaquinone-6 (2-methyl-3-farnesylfarnesyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) and a methyl-substituted menaquinone-6(2,[5 or 8]-dimethyl-3-farnesylfarnesyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) as the major isoprenoid quniones. The latter menaquinone has not been reported in other bacteria and may be a useful chemical marker of Campylobacter spp. C. jejuni [C. fetus ssp. jejuni] and most C. coli [C. fetus ssp. jejuni] were distinguished from other campylobacteria by the presence of a C19 cyclopropane acid and Campylobacter sputorum ssp. mucosalis differed from other species by the presence of aluric acid.