Effect of α-linolenic, capric and lauric acid on the fatty acid biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus

The antimicrobial activity of α-linolenic, capric and lauric acids on Staphylococcus aureus was studied in relation to their effect on the de novo fatty acid biosynthesis. Labelled acetate was used as integrated carbon source and traced in the de novo fatty acid by using a GC-Mass spectrometer and the single ion monitoring (SIM) technique. The detection of the incorporation of the labelled carbon into the individual cell fatty acids (FAs) provided an insight into the different effects of α-linolenic, capric and lauric acids on the FA biosynthesis. The results suggested that FAs pathway is the major target of α-linolenic acid and that other enzymes in addition to FabI are involved in S. aureus response mechanism when medium chain fatty acids are present.