EVIDENCE FOR ‘LIPOPEPTIDE’, PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE, AND PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE IN EXCISED TOMATO ROOTS

Abstract

Evidence is presented for the existence of ‘lipopeptide’ in lipid extracted with ethanol: ether (3:1 v/v) from excised tomato roots grown in sterile culture. The amino acids released by acid hydrolysis of ‘purified’ lipid were identified by co-chromatography and color reaction with acidic and neutral ninhydrin reagent. They are cysteic acid, serine, glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine, valine, leucine and/or isoleucine, and probably methionine and tyrosine. Arginine was detected on some chromatograms. Four unknown substances, three of which are ninhydrin-sensitive, were detected.Paper chromatographic fractionation of water-soluble substances in methanolyzates of 'purified' lipid failed to yield a distinct 'peptide' fraction but fractions high in ‘peptide’ also contained two of the four unknown substances.Glycerylphosphorylethanolamine and glycerylphosphorylcholine were detected in the methanolyzates. Glycerylphosphorylserine was not detected.