C18 unsaturated fatty acid hydrogenation patterns of some rumen bacteria and their ability to hydrolyse exogenous phospholipid.

1. A number of rumen bacteria isolated because of their ability to deacylate phosphatidyl choline, were found, in addition, to hydrogenate polyunsaturated fatty acids. 2. The most active lipolytic organisms had an unusual pattern of hydrogenation of dietary fatty acids in that alpha-linolenic acid was hydrogenated only as far as trans-11, cis-15-octadecadienoic acid.