Novel ether lipid cardiolipins in archaeal membranes of extreme haloalkaliphiles

Roberto Angelini; Paulina Corral; Patrizia Lopalco; Antonio Ventosa; Angela Corcelli

doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.02.014

Novel ether lipid cardiolipins in archaeal membranes of extreme haloalkaliphiles

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012 May;1818(5):1365-73. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.02.014. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Authors

Roberto Angelini¹, Paulina Corral, Patrizia Lopalco, Antonio Ventosa, Angela Corcelli

Affiliation

¹ Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy.

PMID: 22366205
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.02.014

Abstract

The lipidome of two extremely haloalkaliphilic archaea, Natronococcus occultus and Natronococcus amylolyticus, has been examined by means of combined thin-layer chromatography and MALDI-TOF/MS analyses. The detailed investigation of lipid profiles has confirmed the presence of i) ether lipid phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerophosphate methyl ester as main lipid components, ii) both C(20) and C(25) isopranoid chains in the lipid core and yielded new findings on membrane lipids of these unusual organisms. Besides some novel minor or trace phospholipids and glycolipids, data indicate the presence of ether lipid cardiolipin variants constituted by different combinations of C(20) and C(25) isopranoid chains, never before described in archaea. The role of C(25) isopranoid chains in the adaptation to high pH gradients in the presence of very high salt concentrations is discussed.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
Cardiolipins* / chemistry
Cardiolipins* / metabolism
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Natronococcus* / chemistry
Natronococcus* / metabolism
Phospholipid Ethers / chemistry
Phospholipid Ethers / metabolism

Substances

Cardiolipins
Phospholipid Ethers