Effects of Propylgallate on the Phospholipid Composition of Escherichia coli and the Thermotropic Behavior of Lipids

Abstract

Propylgallate, an antioxidant, inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli. The drug caused a decrease in phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and a corresponding increase in cardiolipin (CL) in E. coli, but did not affect phosphatidylethanolamine. When the drug was removed from the medium, rapid accumulation of PG occurred with a concomitant reduction of CL, although the phospholipid content did not change. E. coli phospholipids showed a two phase transition by measurement of differential scanning calorimetry. The drug lowered the transition temperatures and strongly interacted with the phopholipid species which showed the lower phase transition.