FATTY ACID METABOLISM IN SERRATIA MARCESCENS I. : Oxidation of Saturated Fatty Acids by Whole Cells.

Bishop, D. G. (University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia), and J. L. Still. Fatty acid metabolism in Serratia marcescens. J. Bacteriol. 82:370-375. 1961.-A study has been made of the oxidation of saturated fatty acids containing between two and 18 carbon atoms by whole cells of the bacterium, Serratia marcescens. This organism was found to be capable of oxidizing all of the acids tested, but variations in the rate and total oxygen uptake were found. These variations were dependent on the length of the carbon chain in the substrate molecule and the pH of the reaction mixture. The concept that these variations are due to a cellular permeability barrier to the substrate is discussed.