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Three strains of Mycoplasma, M. laidlawii A and B, and Mycoplasma sp. A60549, were grown in broth containing sodium acetate-1-C(14). The methyl esters of the phospholipid fatty acids of harvested radioactive cells were prepared and identified by comparison of their mobilities to known radioactive fatty acid methyl esters by use of a modified reversed-phase partition-thin layer chromatographic technique. No radioactive methyl oleate or methyl linoleate was detected. Compounds migrating as radioactive methyl myristate, stearate, palmitate, and, with less certainty, laurate and octanoate were detected. The qualitative findings for all three organisms appeared similar. M. laidlawii B synthesized a radioactive substance, presumably a saturated fatty acid detected as the methyl ester derivative, which migrated in a position intermediate to methyl myristate-1-C(14) and methyl palmitate-1-C(14). This work indicates that M. laidlawii A and B and Mycoplasma sp. A60549 are capable, in a complex medium containing fatty acids, of synthesizing saturated but not unsaturated fatty acids entirely or in part from acetate.

Razin, S. (University of Connecticut, Storrs), M. E. Tourtellotte, R. N. McElhaney, and J. D. Pollack. Influence of lipid components of Mycoplasma laidlawii membranes on osmotic fragility of cells. J. Bacteriol. 91:609-616. 1966.-Lipid composition of Mycoplasma laidlawii membranes could be significantly changed by variations in the growth medium. The effect of these changes on the osmotic fragility of the cells was studied. Cholesterol, incorporated into the membrane from the growth medium, had no significant effect on osmotic fragility. Carotenoids, synthesized by the cells from acetate, were likewise without effect. Unsaturated long-chain fatty acids increased markedly the resistance of M. laidlawii to osmotic lysis and promoted growth. The fatty acids of the growth medium were incorporated mainly into membrane phospholipids. The ratio between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in membrane lipids depended on that of the growth medium.

Membrane and soluble fractions of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. pulmonis, and M. laidlawii B were prepared by hypotonic lysis of whole cells. The membranes of M. pneumoniae and M. laidlawii B contained, as percentage of dry weight: 34 to 37% protein, 59 to 61% lipid, 3 to 4% carbohydrate as hexose, and 0.2% ribonucleic acid as ribose. NADH(2) and NADPH(2) oxidase activities were localized in the soluble fractions of M. pneumoniae and in the membrane fraction of M. laidlawii B. NADH(2) oxidase activity was localized in the soluble fraction of M. pulmonis. The lipids of M. pneumoniae were labeled when the organism was grown in the presence of either radioactive palmitic acid, oleic acid, cholesterol, or glycerol. The lipids were not labeled when grown in the presence of radioactive acetate. Palmitic acid radio-activity was found in neutral lipid, glycolipid, and phosphatide fractions. Immunodiffusion analyses of whole cells and membrane fractions demonstrated three reactive antigens. Two immunodiffusion antigens were localized in the membrane fraction. One of these apparently contains lipid. A third antigen, also considered lipoidal, was found in whole cells. Membrane and soluble fractions of M. pneumoniae were immunogenic. The immunogens eliciting metabolic-inhibiting antibodies were localized in the membrane. The membrane preparation also induced the formation of antibodies which fixed complement with an antigen extracted with lipid solvent. The soluble fraction contained a distinct immunogen which induces antibodies reactive in complement fixation with an antigen prepared by phenol extraction.

Antelope ground squirrels (Citellus leucurus) were able, after conditioning, to respond correctly to a port illuminated with light at a wavelength of 460 nanometers. This color randomly presented at one of two positions, was correctly selected in reference to a second port illuminated with light at 500, 520, 569, and 600 nanometers, or with white light of varying intensity. Luminosity was not a factor in the discrimination.

Lungs excised from rats infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis are more difficult to inflate with air than those from uninfected animals; they show no significant differences from controls inflated with saline. The altered pulmonary function in lungs from infected rats is attributed to an increase in surface forces, implying disruption of the lung surfactant system.

The morphology and the existence of a growth cycle of Mycoplasma pneumoniae have not been clearly established. There is disagreement as to whether this organism exists as a spherical or filamentous form, and whether it progresses from filamentous to spherical forms as the organism ages. A scanning-beam electron microscope (SEM) was utilized to provide detailed observations of the cycle of morphological changes during growth phases of M. pneumoniae. Cultures of cells grown and fixed in liquid suspension displayed morphological changes from spherical to filamentous and then to larger round forms. After 8 hr to 2 days of growth (phase I), spherical forms and aggregates were revealed. Two- to 6-day-old growth (phase II) was composed of both straight and branching filaments with bulbous elements situated at intervals along their lengths, and microcolonies composed predominantly of intertwined filaments. Six- to 10-day-old growth (phase III) was characterized by flattened, spherical organisms larger than those observed in phase I, occasional membranes or ghosts, and a paucity of aggregates or microcolonies. Thus, stereo-scan electron microscopic studies suggest that M. pneumoniae undergoes an orderly and sequential metamorphosis during its life cycle.

Solvent mixtures containing trimethyl borate virtually eliminated the pronounced interconversion of 1,2- and 1,3-dipalmitins during their resolution by thin-layer chromatography on Silica Gel G. With trimethyl borate, an average of 1-2% of 1,2-dipalmitin was converted to 1,3-dipalmitin. A four-directional-development TLC procedure incorporating trimethyl borate resolves cholesteryl glucoside, ceramides, monogalactosyl diglyceride, 1- and 2-monopalmitin, palmitic acid, cholesterol, 1,2- and 1,3-dipalmitin, tripalmitin, methyl palmitate, cholesteryl palmitate, beta-carotene and some of its degradation products, squalene, and tetracosane. Digalactosyl diglyceride, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglucose, cerebrosides, and other phospholipids remain near the origin. A mixture containing triolein, 1,2- and 1,3-diolein, 1- and 2- monoolein, oleic acid, and cholesterol was resolved in one dimension. A similar series of palmitic-containing neutral lipids was also resolvable in one dimension. These procedures were applied to the TLC of human sera lipids.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae harvested from media which had become acid lost the ability both to induce formation of tetrazolium reduction inhibition antibody and to act as antigens in immunodiffusion against human convalescent-phase sera. Incorporation of N-tris(hydroxymethyl)-2-aminoethane sulfonic acid and N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethane sulfonic acid buffers into a new medium containing PPLO Serum Fraction instead of horse serum delayed the pH decline. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, triethanolamine, and 3,6-endomethylene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid buffers inhibited growth. Mycoplasmas obtained from buffered cultures retained antigenicity as measured by immunodiffusion and could stimulate tetrazolium reduction inhibition antibody formation in animals.