Occurrence of C35–C45 polyprenols in filamentous and unicellular cyanobacteria

Polyprenols, regular (head-to-tail) isoprenoid alcohols with 7–9 prenyl units, were tentatively identified in several cultivated cyanobacteria. Heptaprenol (C35), octaprenol (C40) and a suite of nonaprenols (C45) were present in unicellular and filamentous non-heterocystous cyanobacteria, while they were absent in heterocystous species. Structurally related components, e.g. long-chain (⩾C35) acyclic regular isoprenoid hydrocarbons, have been reported from petroleum and cyanobacterial polyprenols may be potential precursors.