Diacyl Myoinositol Monomannoside from Propionibacterium shermanii

The lipids of Propionibacterium shermanii have been extracted and fractionated on diethylaminoethyl cellulose and silicic acid columns. The extract is rich in a new glycolipid, diacyl myoinositol monomannoside, in which mannose is glycosidically linked to position 2 of myoinositol. The glycolipid contains 2 fatty acid groups per molecule. Small amounts of decanoic, lauric, palmitic, and stearic acids are present, but the major fatty acids have not been identified. Methylation and periodate oxidation studies indicate that one fatty acid is esterified to position 6 of mannose and the other to position 1 of myoinositol. Phosphatidylmyoinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate are also major components of the extract.