Abstract
Three 7-hydroxylkanoic acids not previously reported in microorganisms were found in extracts from saponified whole cells of Mucor spp. grown under oxygen limiting conditions. On the basis of evidence from mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatographic procedures and chemical conversions, they were confirmed to be 7-hydroxydecanoic, 7-hydroxydodecanoic and 7-hydroxytetradecanoic acids. The racemates of the former two acids were synthesized and compared with the isolates. These acids were found in the hydrolyzates of extractable and residual parts of lyophilized cells with a chloroformmethanol (2:1) mixture. The hydroxy acid contents of eight species of the genus Mucor grown in stationary liquid medium were also determined.
