Physiological and compositional changes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) were monitored during, growth on various petroleum compounds in a chemically-defined medium. Growth of P. aeruginosa was observed when furnace oil, kerosene, aviation fuel, light crude oil and hexadecane were used as carbon and energy sources. A variable and extended lag period before active growth was achieved was characteristic of petroleum-grown cells as compared to glucose-grown cells. Growth on the petroleum hydrocarbons, compared with that on glucose, resulted in changes in cell lipid composition, outer membrane proteins, cell-surface hydrophobicity, surface-tension, and pH changes in the growth medium during transition from early to late-log phase. Cell composition and physiology of cells grown in the petroleum mixtures varied due to differences in the chemical composition of the material. Production of an exopolymer (characterized as a peptidoglycolipid) was associated with petroleum-grown cells but not with glucose-grown cells. The above differences illustrate some of the dynamic and physiological and biochemical changes the microorganism undergoes to access its hydrophobic carbon and energy source.

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