Alterations in lipid constituents during growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis CDC 46 and Mycobacterium phlei ATCC 354.

Phospholipids of Mycobacterium phlei ATCC 354 and Mycobacterium smegmatis CDC 46 consist of cardiolipin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, tri-acylated dimannophosphoinositide, tetra-acylated dimannophosphoinositide and tetra-acylated pentamannosphosphoinositide. A comparative study of lipid patterns of M. phlei ATCC 354 and of M. smegmatis CDC 46 in relation to age of culture revealed higher total lipid level and increased activity of malate-vitamin K reductase, a phospholipid requiring enzyme, during the early logarithmic growth phase of the former. No appreciable change occurred in the latter. The high total lipid content coincides with an increase in phospholipid, brought about apparently by the increase in malate-vitamin K reductase. Changes in cardiolipin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine appeared to be unique to M. phlei ATCC 354. However, in both bacterial species, a decrease in glyceride and a progressive increase in tuberculostearic acid with a concomitant decrease in oleic acid, occurred with ageing.