[Arctic pigmented mycobacteria and their role in the oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons].

Red-orange Mycobacterium species (the rhodochrous group) were isolated from the water of the Arctic regions; they were described, and the structure of lipids and the assimilation of oil products of low temperatures were comparatively studied in the arctic water and soil Mycobacterium species. The composition of usual fatty and mycolic acids was studied in two strains growing in a medium with hexadecane. Palmitic acid prevailed among fatty acids in the both strains; mycolic acids were represented by the compounds C34:0 and C34:1 (Mycobacterium brevicale) and C32:0 and C:34:0 (Mycobacterium sp.). The presence of unsaturated mycolic acids in the cells correlated with their capability to assimilate hydrocarbons at low temperatures.