Positional Distribution of Fatty Acids in Phospholipids from Mycobacteria

Abstract

Cardiolipin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol oligomannosides were isolated from several strains of Mycobacteria. The composition and the positional distribution of fatty acids in these phospholipids were investigated. Substantial differences in the fatty acid composition were observed among the individual phospholipids isolated from different strains of Mycobacteria studied, although the composition of fatty acids of the individual phospholipids showed in general similar patterns in the same bacterial species. An unusual pattern of the positional distribution of fatty acids was also observed in the phospholipids. Palmitic acid was mainly located at the β position, while octadecenoic and tuberculostearic acids were situated at the α position.