title: Phospholipid metabolism in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: phospholipid hydrolysis in nongrowing cells.
abstract: Hydrolysis of cell envelope phospholipids was demonstrated in cells of both autolytic and nonautolytic strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae that were labeled during growth in the presence of [3H] acetate. The label incorporated into the cellular phospholipids was located exclusively in the fatty acid acyl side chains. Labeled cells were incubated for 2 hr in N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, pH 8.5, containing various additions, and then examined for distribution of 3H in lipids. Ca++ selectively stimulated the deacylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), whereas Mn++ stimulated the deacylation of phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine by phospholipase A was accompanied by the accumulation of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) and free fatty acids in the cells. Free fatty acids accumulated to a greater extent than lysophosphatidylethanolamine, suggesting that the latter was further hydrolyzed to glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPE) and free fatty acids by a lysophospholipase. Methanol, ethanol, propanol, and isopropanol, added at concentrations which inhibited growth by 50%, stimulated phospholipase A, but not lysophospholipase activity. Differences in heat inactivation, metal ion requirements, and pH optima suggested that phospholipase A activities with phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylglycerol as substrate and lysophospholipase may be separate enzymes.
mesh_terms: D002021:Buffers; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids