Novel hopanoids from the methylotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylomonas methanica. (22S)-35-aminobacteriohopane-30,31,32,33,34-pentol and (22S)-35-amino-3 beta-methylbacteriohopane-30,31,32,33,34-pentol.

The major hopanoid of the methylotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylomonas methanica was identified by spectroscopic methods as (22S)-35-aminobacteriohopane-30,31,32,33,34-pentol. Minor companions were, in both bacteria, 35-aminobacteriohopane-31,32,33,34-tetrol and in Methylomonas methanica, 35-aminobacteriohopane-32,33,34-triol. In Methylococcus capsulatus the aminopentol and the aminotetrol were accompanied by their homologues possessing an extra methyl group at C-3. Bacterial hopanoids with a functionalized C-30 carbon atom such as these two new aminopentols are possible precursors of widespread C29 hopanoid chemical fossils.