Abstract
PHOSPHOLIPIDS are characteristic components of the membranes of living cells, where in many cases they represent the major polar lipid components. The common phospholipids in Gram-negative bacteria are phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol1. Pseudomonas diminuta NCTC 8545, however, contains high proportions of glycolipids and relatively low proportions of phospholipids when grown on solid media or in submerged culture2. The glycolipids are α-glucosyldiglyceride, α-glucuronosyldiglyceride and β-glucosyl (1→4)-α-glucuronosyldiglyceride3, and the phospholipids are phosphatidylglycerol3 and 6-phosphatidyl-α-glucosyldiglyceride4. It has been suggested that the acidic glycolipids (containing glucuronosyl residues) might behave as substitutes for acidic phospholipids in the membranes of this pseudomonad5. Here we describe studies on the lipid composition of P. diminuta grown in continuous culture in conditions of phosphate and magnesium limitation which support this suggestion. Moreover, in conditions of phosphate limitation the cells contain barely detectable amounts (0.3% of total polar lipids) of phospholipid, thereby suggesting that appreciable amounts of these compounds are not obligatory for the maintenance of membrane function.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Goldfine, H., in Advances in Microbial Physiology, 8, 1–58 (edit. by Rose, A. H., and Tempest, D. W.) (Academic Press, London and New York, 1971).
Wilkinson, S. G., Galbraith, L., and Lightfoot, G. A., Eur. J. Biochem., 33, 158–174 (1973).
Wilkinson, S. G., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 187, 492–500 (1969).
Wilkinson, S. G., and Bell, M. E., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 248, 293–299 (1971).
Wilkinson, S. G., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 164, 148–156 (1968).
Baker, K., Lab. Prac., 17, 817–824 (1968).
Stanier, R. Y., Palleroni, N. J., and Doudoroff, M., J. gen. Microbiol 43, 159–271 (1966).
Ballard, R. W., Doudoroff, M., Stanier, R. Y., and Mandel, M., J. gen. Microbiol., 53, 349–361 (1968).
Minnikin, D. E., Abdolrahimzadeh, H., and Baddiley, J., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 249, 651–655 (1971).
Nutter, L. J., and Privett, O. S., J. Chromatogr., 35, 519–525 (1968).
Dittmer, J. C., and Lester, R. L., J. Lipid Res., 5, 126–127 (1964).
Baddiley, J., Buchanan, J. G., Handschumacher, R. E., and Prescott, J. F., J. chem. Soc., 2818, (1956).
Palleroni, N. J., Ballard, R. W., Ralston, E., and Doudoroff, M., J. Bact., 110, 1–11 (1972).
Minnikin, D. E., Abdolrahimzadeh, H., and Baddiley, J., Biochem. J., 124, 447–448 (1971).
Minnikin, D. E., Abdolrahimzadeh, H., and Baddiley, J., FEBS Lett., 27, 16–18 (1972).
Laine, R. A., Griffin, P. F. S., Sweeley, C. C., and Brennan, P. J., Biochemistry, 11, 2267–2271 (1972).
Rouser, G., Yamamoto, A., and Kritchevsky, G., Arch. int. Med., 127, 1105–1121 (1971).
Wilkinson, S. G., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 270, 1–17 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MINNIKIN, D., ABDOLRAHIMZADEH, H. & BADDILEY, J. Replacement of acidic phospholipids by acidic glycolipids in Pseudomonas diminuta. Nature 249, 268–269 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/249268a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/249268a0
This article is cited by
-
Phosphate deficiency response and membrane lipid remodeling in plants
Plant Physiology Reports (2021)
-
Lipid remodelling is a widespread strategy in marine heterotrophic bacteria upon phosphorus deficiency
The ISME Journal (2016)
-
A new class of plant lipid is essential for protection against phosphorus depletion
Nature Communications (2013)
-
Molecular Ion‐Independent Quantification of Polar Glycerolipid Classes in Marine Plankton Using Triple Quadrupole MS
Lipids (2013)
-
Phosphorus supply drives rapid turnover of membrane phospholipids in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana
The ISME Journal (2011)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.