Virginia Lanzotti

Complex lipids of Pyrococcus and AN1, thermophilic members of archaebcteria belonging to Thermococcales

Abstract The lipid composition of two archaebacteria belonging to Thermococcales has been examined. The major complex lipid present in the Pyrococcus genus is 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-1′-myo- l -inositol (90% of total lipids) In the AN1 isolate this lipid (40% of the total lipids) and a novel 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1(α- d -glucopyranosyl 3-phosphate) (45%) were identified.

Polar lipids and glycine betaine from haloalkaliphilic archaebacteria

SUMMARY: The major polar lipids from haloalkaliphilic archaebacteria of the genera Natronobacterium and Natronococcus have been analysed by spectroscopic methods, including 13C NMR, to establish unequivocal structural detail. Diether forms of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidyl-glycerophosphate (PGP) are the major polar lipids; PGP is the main component for all species. Natronobacterium spp. show a preponderance of the 2-0-sesterterpanyl-3-0-phytanyl glycerol diether form (C25, C20) of both PG and PGP, whereas Natronococcus occultus has a preponderance of the diphytanylglycerol diether form (C20, C20) for both. In all cases, PGP (C25, C20 and C20, C20 forms) eluted from silica columns in association with glycine betaine (trimethylglycine). 5 May 1987

A new 15,16-dimethyl-30-glyceryloxytriacontanoic acid from lipids of Thermotoga maritima

The lipids of the thermophilic anaerobic eubacterium Thermotoga maritima are mainly based on: (a) n-C14, n-C16, and n-C18 fatty acids; (b) 15,16-dimethyltriacontanedioic acid (diabolic acid); (c) a new compound identified by chemical and degradative evidence as 15,16-dimethyl-30-glyceryloxytriacontanoic acid.

A complex lipid with a cyclic phosphate from the archaebacterium Natronococcus occultus

Abstract Polar lipid extract from the haloalkaliphilic archaebacterium Natronococcus occultus contains a new type of phospholipid. Spectroscopic methods establish the structure as a phosphatidylglycerol phosphate derivative with a cyclic phasphate (2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphoryl-3′-sn-glycero-1′,2′-cyclic phosphate). A 2-O-sesterterpanyl-3-O-phytanyl (C25,C20) glycerol diether form of the novel phospholipid is also present.

Complex lipids from Desulfurococcus mobilis, a sulfur-reducing archaebacterium

Abstract On the basis of spectral data and chemical procedures, the structure of three complex lipids from the thermophilic archaebacterium Desulfurococcus mobilis have been elucidated. These lipids are derivatives of the glycerol-bisdiphytanylglycerol tetraether (GDGT). The first one, the less polar compound, is a glycolipid (22% of total lipids), in which one of the free hydroxyl groups of GDGT is linked glycosidically to a disaccharide with structure α- d - Glcp (1 → 4)-β- d - Galp . The second compound (21%) is a phosphoglycolipid, in which one of the free hydroxyls of GDGT is linked glycosidically to β- d -Galp and the other one is esterified with P-myo-inositol residue. The more polar compound (32%) is a phosphoglycolipid derived from the α- d -Glcp(1 → 4)-β- d -Galp-GDGT, in which the free hydroxyl of GDGT moiety is esterified with P- myo -inositol residue.

Glycolipids from Thermotoga maritima, a hyperthermophilic microorganism belonging to Bacteria domain

Two novel glycolipids with a very rare alpha(1-->4) diglucosyl structure have been isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima. The structures of these compounds, on the basis of chemical procedures and spectroscopic studies (FAB-MS and NMR), were shown to be: 1(3),2-dipalmitoyl-3(1)-[glucopyranosyl-(6-decanoyl)-alpha-D-(1-->4)- glucopyranosyl-alpha-D]-glycerol (Glycolipid 1) and 1(3),2-dipalmitoyl-3(1)-[glucopyranosyl-alpha-D-(1-->4)-glucopyranosyl- alpha-D]-glycerol (Glycolipid 2).

A Simple Chromatographic Procedure for the Detection of Cyclized Archaebacterial Glycerol-Bisdiphytanyl-Glycerol Tetraether Core Lipids

Archaebacterial glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraether core lipids containing from one to eight cyclopentane rings could be resolved from each other and from the parent uncyclized C40, C40 lipid by TLC. The core lipids of examples from the genera Methanobacterium, Methanobrevibacter, Methanogenium and Methanoplanus did not contain cyclized forms of glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraethers, whereas the core lipids of Methanosarcina barkeri contained glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraethers with from one to three cyclopentane rings in each C40 isopranoid chain.

An isopranoid ether analogue of phosphatidic acid from a halophilic archaebacterium

Polar lipid extract from a halophilic archaebacterium isolated from a salt mine contains C 20 ,C 20 diether forms of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP), phosphatidylglycerosulfate (PGS), 2,3-di- O -phytanyl-1- O -[mannopyranosyl-(6-sulfate)-α- d -1 → 2-glucopyranosyl-α d ]-sn-glycerol (S-DGD-1) and an analogue of phosphatidic acid (2,3-di- O -phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphate).

A new benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']dithiophene-4,8-quinone from the Archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus

2-(1,5,9,13,17,21-hexamethyldocosyl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-quinone is identified by spectroscopic and degradation studies in sulfolobus solfataricus, a thermophilic member of archaebacteria.