The glyceryl ethers of Paramecium phospholipids and phosphonolipids.

Two glyceryl ethers, 1-O-hexadecyl glycerol and 1-O-cis-octadec-11-enyl glycerol, chimyl and paramecyl alcohol, respectively, were quantified in total phospholipids and five glycerophospholipid classes from cells and cilia of the ciliated protozoon, Paramecium tetraurelia. The ether content of 2-aminoethyl phosphonoglycerolipid was 85-90 mole %. Concentrations of ethers were greatest in the ethanolamine phosphonolipids greater than phosphatidylcholines greater than phosphatidylserines greater than phosphatidylethanolamines greater than phosphatidylinositols. The glyceryl ether concentrations in total cellular phospholipids increased with culture age in P. tetraurelia and P. multimicronucleatum cells. The glyceryl ether concentrations in the phospholipids of P. tetraurelia cilia remained constant from mid log to stationary phase of culture growth. Paramecium tetraurelia phospholipid glyceryl ether concentrations were made greater by supplementation of cultures with chimyl alcohol.