Abstract
Effect of glycine on the metabolism of phospholipid in Bacillus subtilis 6169 was studied. Cell lysis and an alteration of phospholipid metabolism were observed when the cells were grown in the presence of 1% of glycine. Under these conditions, cardiolipin content increased from 20 to 60% with concomitant decrease in phosphatidylglycerol from 60 to 15% of the total phospholipid-phosphorus. The incorporation of 32P-orthophosphate and 3H-glycerol into phospholipids also showed that glycine did not inhibit the synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol but presumably stimulated the conversion of phosphatidylglycerol to cardiolipin. Addition of a small amount of glycerol with glycine to the culture medium significantly suppressed the cell lysis and the change in the phospholipid metabolism. The possible mechanism, by which phospholipid metabolism was altered, was discussed.
