THE LIPID COMPOSITION OF BACILLUS CEREUS AS INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF ALCOHOLS IN THE CULTURE MEDIUM

Cells of Bacillus cereus grown in an alcohol-free medium (control cells) had a lipid content of 2.6 ± 0.4%, on a dry weight basis. About half of the lipids consisted of phosphatides, including phosphatidyl ethanolamine (40%), phosphatidyl glycerol (28%), lecithin (6%), lyso compounds (10%), and three acidic phosphatides of unknown structure. The fatty acids of the total lipids were predominantly saturated, the major components being branched-chain C13, C15, and C17acids. The neutral lipids consisted mostly of diglycerides, with a small amount of triglycerides. Five to ten per cent of the lipids was obtained as unsaponifiable material, consisting chiefly of long-chain (n-C16and n-C18) alcohols, and having traces of long-chain aldehydes (derived from plasmalogens).Cells grown in the presence of alcohols usually had a higher phosphatide content, a correspondingly lower non-phosphatide content, and a higher non-saponifiable content than control cells. Total lipid content or relative proportions of the phosphatide components in alcohol-grown cells did not differ significantly from those of control cells.

THE LIPID COMPOSITION OF BACILLUS CEREUS AS INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF ALCOHOLS IN THE CULTURE MEDIUM

Cells of Bacillus cereus grown in an alcohol-free medium (control cells) had a lipid content of 2.6 ± 0.4%, on a dry weight basis. About half of the lipids consisted of phosphatides, including phosphatidyl ethanolamine (40%), phosphatidyl glycerol (28%), lecithin (6%), lyso compounds (10%), and three acidic phosphatides of unknown structure. The fatty acids of the total lipids were predominantly saturated, the major components being branched-chain C13, C15, and C17acids. The neutral lipids consisted mostly of diglycerides, with a small amount of triglycerides. Five to ten per cent of the lipids was obtained as unsaponifiable material, consisting chiefly of long-chain (n-C16and n-C18) alcohols, and having traces of long-chain aldehydes (derived from plasmalogens).Cells grown in the presence of alcohols usually had a higher phosphatide content, a correspondingly lower non-phosphatide content, and a higher non-saponifiable content than control cells. Total lipid content or relative proportions of the phosphatide components in alcohol-grown cells did not differ significantly from those of control cells.