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Undecane production by cold-adapted bacteria from Antarctica

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Abstract

In the last decades, efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels have increased the search for alternative sustainable sources of renewable energy. In this scenario, hydrocarbons derived from fatty acids are among the compounds that have been drawing attention. The intracellular production of hydrocarbons by bacteria derived from cold environments such as the Antarctic continent is currently poorly investigated, as extremophilic microorganisms provide a great range of metabolic capabilities and may represent a key tool in the production of biofuels. The aim of this study was to explore the ability of bacterial cells derived from extreme environments to produce hydrocarbons with potential for further use as biofuels. Seven bacteria isolated from Antarctic samples were evaluated for hydrocarbon production using GC–MS approaches. Two isolates, identified as Arthrobacter livingstonensis 593 and Pseudoalteromonas arctica 628, were able to produce the hydrocarbon undecane (CH3-(CH2)9-CH3) in concentrations of 1.39 mg L−1 and 1.81 mg L−1, respectively. Results from the present work encourage further research focusing on the optimization of hydrocarbon production by the isolates identified as producers, which may be used in further aircraft biofuel production. This is the first report on the production of the undecane compound by bacteria isolated from waterlogged soil and sponge from Antarctica.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the Brazilian Antarctic Program for making the sampling feasible in the expedition OPERANTAR XXXII (summer 2013/2014). MRZP also grateful to FAPESP for financial support (process numbers 2013/22062-8).

Funding

This work was supported by the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (FAPESP)—Process: 2016/05640-6.

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Authors

Contributions

MRZP analyzed data, designed research, conducted experiments and wrote the manuscript. TRS conducted experiments. SPFB conducted experiments. NLC conducted experiments. AS analyzed data. MB analyzed data. LHR and AWFD performed the sampling. JRO wrote the manuscript. VMO analyzed data, designed research and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michel Rodrigo Zambrano Passarini.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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This work did not involve the direct study of humans or animals.

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Communicated by A. Driessen.

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792_2020_1200_MOESM1_ESM.pptx

Supplementary file1 Supplementary material Chromatogram showing undecane production (retention time 13.78 min). A- positive control Vibrio alginolyticus (CBMAI 717); B- negative control E.coli (CBMAI 696); C- Maribacter arcticus (130), isolated non-producer of undecane. (PPTX 231 kb)

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Passarini, M.R.Z., e Silva, T., Bernal, S.P.F. et al. Undecane production by cold-adapted bacteria from Antarctica. Extremophiles 24, 863–873 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-020-01200-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-020-01200-1

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