title: Phospholipids of the differentiating species of Tetrahymena.
abstract: The whole-cell phospholipid composition of the six known polymorphic species of Tetrahymena has been examined by [(3)H]acetate and [(3)H]myristic acid radiolabeling, and by gas-liquid chromatography of total phospholipid-bound fatty acids. Five of the polymorphic species contained similar phospholipid profiles following radiolabeling in that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was the predominant phospholipid; however, in cells of Tetrahymena patula LFF, aminoethylphosphonolipid was present in amounts nearly equal to PE. Tetrahymena patula LFF contained an unusually large percentage of sphingolipid (16.2% by [(3)H]acetate radiolabeling). Substantial differences were found in the fatty acid profiles of the polymorphic species, which included the degree of fatty acid unsaturation and relative weight percentages of odd-chain fatty acids. Tetrahymena vorax contained a low ratio of unsaturated C(18) fatty acids to saturated C(18) fatty acids as compared with all other species examined. The differentiating species generally contained a lesser percentage of monoenoic fatty acids and a lower ratio of unsaturated C(16) fatty acids to saturated C(16) fatty acids as compared with the two monomorphic species examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida 32514.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Burdette
authors.forename: Alyssa B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sanstead
authors.forename: Bridget M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.forename: Phillip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ryals
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D019814:Myristic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*; D013768:Tetrahymena / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification*; D014316:Tritium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D019814:Myristic Acid; D014316:Tritium