Biosynthesis of Phospholipids and neutral lipids of monkey kidney cells (LLC-MK-2) infected with Chlamydia trachomatic strain lymphogranuloma venereum (38538).

The biosynthesis of phospho-lipids and neutral lipids in normal and monkey kidney cells infected with lymphogranuloma venereum were compared using 14C-acetate and 14-C-serine in pulse-chase experiments. Synthesis of phospholipids and nutral glycerolipids were inhibited in infected cells. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) synthesis increased while phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl serine and cardiolipin synthesis decreased in infected cells within 36 hr after infection. Sphingomyelin syntheisis decreased after 48 hr of infection. The synthesis of PE in the infected cell followed a similar pathway found in bacteria and could be distinguished from the normal host cell. An explanation of the parsitic requirement for lipid precursors has been proposed.