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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #267781
Title: Chemical characterization of carbohydrate-based biosurfactants

Author
item Price, Neil
item Leathers, Timothy
item Kurtzman, Cletus
item Vermillion, Karl
item Rooney, Alejandro - Alex
item MANITCHOTPISIT, PENNAPA - Rangsit University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/25/2011
Publication Date: 6/25/2011
Citation: Price, N.P., Leathers, T.D., Kurtzman, C.P., Vermillion, K., Rooney, A.P., Manitchotpisit, P., Punnapayak, H. 2011. Chemical characterization of carbohydrate-based biosurfactants [abstract]. Gordon Conference on Carbohydrates. Poster #64.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: High-yield, glycolipid-based biosurfactants are of increasing interest for use in environmentally benign cleaning or emulsifying agents. We have developed a MALDI-TOF/MS screen for the rapid analysis of several types of biosurfactants, including various acylated rhamnolipids in Pseudomonas extracts, and a newly identified sophorolipid-producing yeast. The approach is validated by carbohydrate and lipid GC/MS analysis, RP-HPLC, and 1D- and 2D-NMR. Unlike those reported previously, the Candida spp. NRRL Y-27208 sophorolipids contain a omega-hydroxy-linked acyl group (typically 18-hydroxy-delta-9-octadecenoate), and occur predominantly in a non-lactone, anionic form. In addition, seventeen dimeric and trimeric sophoroses were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS from this strain. We have also surveyed more than 50 diverse strains of Aureobasidium pullulans, representing at least 6 phylogenic clades, more than 40% of which produce unusual, denser-that-water biosurfactants. The complete structure of these A. pullulans biosurfactant has been elucidated, and is reported here the first time. These structures are novel, although with some characteristics of a related polyhydroxylated natural product called exophilin. The relatively high yield and surfactant-like properties of these new materials has potential value as replacements for petroleum-based detergents and emulsifiers.