Gas-chromatographic analysis of mycolic acid cleavage products in mycobacteria

Abstract

Mycolic acids were detected in both reference strains and clinical isolates of mycobacteria by using gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters prepared by acid methanolysis. The methyl esters were extracted with hexane, concentrated, and analyzed with a gas chromatograph by using two different injector temperatures. When the samples were analyzed at high injector temperatures of 300 to 350°C, characteristic thermal cleavage in products from mycolic acids, C(22:0), C(24:0), or C(26:0) fatty acid methyl esters, were detected. When analyzed at injector temperatures of 235°C or lower, the mycolic acids were heat stable and the characteristic methyl ester cleavage products were not observed.