The phospholipids of corynebacteria

The phospholipids of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium equi and Corynebacterium ovis were examined, largely by chromatographic procedures. In all of these, lipids of the phosphoinositide and mannophosphoinositide type were prominent. In contrast to the mycobacteria, the mannophosphoinositides of the corynebacteria were all dimannophosphoinositides; however, as in mycobacteria, these dimannophosphoinositides apparently occurred in the diacylated and triacylated forms—the tetraacylated component prominent in mycobacteria was absent. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were also absent. In Corynebacterium diphtheriae the major single phospholipid corresponded to phosphatidylglycerol: cardiolipin also appeared to be a major lipid. The fatty acids of the corynebacterial phospholipids were distinguished by the presence of branched chain isomers of medium chain length. The importance of phospholipids in the taxonomy of the actinomycetes and related eubacteria is discussed.