Effect of choline, ethanolamine and serine supplementation on the membrane properties of Microsporum gypseum.

Phospholipid bases, choline and ethanolamine, when supplemented in the growth medium of Microsporum gypseum resulted in an increase in the corresponding phospholipid and total phospholipid content. However, when serine was supplemented, marginal changes were observed. The fatty acid profile of phospholipids remained almost unchanged. The uptake of lysine, leucine and aspartic acid in the spheroplasts of choline- and ethanolamine-grown cells was higher as compared to the control. 1-Anilinonaphathalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) binding to the spheroplast membrane, as calculated from Scatchard plots, demonstrated an increase in the number of binding sites in choline- and ethanolamine-grown cells, while a decrease was observed in the serine-supplemented cells. The results are discussed in terms of the effect of phospholipid polar head group composition on the membrane structure and function of this fungus.