Lipids of Klebsiella pneumoniae: the presence of phosphatidyl choline in succinate-grown cells.

The carbon and energy source for aerobically grown cultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae profoundly influenced the total lipid content and phosphatide composition. Glucose-grown cells contained 13% lipid, 56% of which was phospholipids. Succinate-grown cells contained 8% lipid, 66% of which was phospholipids. The predominant phosphatides of glucose-grown cells were phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 82%; phosphatidyl glycerol, 4.5%; phosphatidic acid, 5%; cardiolipin, 6.5%; phosphatidyl serine; and trace amounts of unidentified phosphatides. Phosphatides of succinate-grown cells were phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 38%; diphosphatidyl glycerol, 14%; phosphatidyl glycerol, 13%; phosphatidyl choline, 14.5%; phosphatidyl serine, 6%; phosphatidic acid, 4%; and 10% unknown lipids. No trace of phosphatidyl choline was found in glucose-grown cells.