An Unusual Polar Lipid from the Cell Membrane of Mycoplasma fermentans

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20216.x
• Publication Date: 2005-03-04T11:30:17Z
• Authors: Joseph Deutsch; Michael Salman; Shlomo Rottem
• Keywords: Fast atom bombardment; Moiety; Muramic acid

The major unidentified polar lipid (compound X), recently demonstrated in the cell membrane of Mycoplasma fermentans, was purified by preparative silicic acid column chromatography. Chemical analyses acid-hydrolyzed compound X revealed that, addition to fatty acids, it contains glycerol, choline and phosphate a molar ratio approximately 1:1:2, an amino that has retention time similar homoserine. methylated fraction subjected gas-liquid chromatography methyl palmitate stearate 4.6:1 ratio. structure further analyzed combining mass spectrometry, 31P-NMR 1H-NMR. positive negative fast atom bombardment spectra showed component M(r) 1048 minor 1076. Two different groups were identified each components 31P-NMR. Fast bombardment, tandem chemical ionization spectrometry together with water-soluble ether-soluble products obtained methanolysis shown palmitic stearic residues, presence ribitol, cholinephosphate homoserinephosphate residues. It is suggested apparent either phosphatidylcholine attached via phosphotriester bond ribitolphosphohomoserine moiety or phosphatidylhomoserine ribitolphosphocholine moiety. molecular species dipalmitoylderivative (M(r) 1048), whereas stearoyl palmitoyl derivative 1076).