Lipids and Lipoprotein Complex in Photosynthetic Tissues

Lipids and pigments of photosynthetic bacteria, Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodop-seudomonas capsulatus were examined. Common and prominent lipids in both bacteria were phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl glycerol. Rhodospirillum rubrum contained a special lipid containing ornithine. Their component fatty acids were straight chain saturated and monoenoic acids. No glycolipids were found in both bacteria. Ubiquinone-50 was detected in large amounts in both bacteria, and a new quinone and rhodoquinone were found in Rhodospirillum rubrum. The major carotenoids were spirilloxanthin, lycopene, and probably rhodopin. The results were compared with those of spinach and Anacystis, and discussed.