Preferential inhibition of phosphatidyl ethanolamine synthesis in E. coli by alcohols.

Growth of E. coli in the presence of alcohols of chain lengths 1 through 8 results in an increase in the relative abundance of phosphatidyl glycerol. This results primarily from the preferential inhibition of phosphatidyl ethanolamine synthesis. This inhibition appears to be unrelated to membrane fluidity or to changes in fatty acid composition caused by alcohols. Alcohol-induced changes in total fatty acid composition are reflected in all phospholipid classes. Phosphatidyl serine synthetase is proposed as the most likely site for the effects of alcohols on phospholipid synthesis.