LIPID AND PHOSPHOLIPID COMPOSITION OF NON-PIGMENTED AND PIGMENTED HYPHAL CELL WALLS OF (-) STRAIN OF BLAKESLEA TRISPORA

Abstract

Exposure of the hyphae of (-) strain of Blakeslea trispora to air greatly stimulated the accumulation of carotenes and induced changes in the composition of the cell wall lipid. Fractionation of wall lipid revealed the presence of different lipid classes (phospholipids, monoglycerides, diglycerides, ergosterol, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and waxes). Phospholipids, free fatty acids, and waxes constitute the major part of wall lipid. The difference in wall lipid between non-pigmented and pigmented hyphae was quantitative rather than qualitative. The phospholipid fraction mainly contained phosphatidic acid, diphosphatidylglycerol, glucosylphosphatidylglycerol, and a trace of phosphatidylglycerol. No qualitative or quantitative difference was observed in the phospholipid components of the phospholipid fractions.