Occurrence of N-acylethanolamine phospholipids in fish brain and spinal cord

N-Acylethanolamine phospholipids were identified in the central nervous system of the fresh water fish, pike (Esox lucius) and carp (Cyprinus carpio), at levels ranging from 0.1 to 0.9% of total phospholipid. The N-acylethanolamine phospholipids of carp brain were isolated and characterized by chemical, biochemical and spectroscopic methods. Two major species, 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho(N-acyl)ethanolamines (approx. 30%) and 1-O-(1'-alkenyl)-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho(N-acyl)ethanolamines (approx. 70%) were identified. The N-acyl groups of each species consisted primarily of 16:0 (approx. 60%) but also contained 16:1, 18:0 and 18:1 (approx. 10% each) and a number of trace constituents. The N-acylethanolamine phospholipids had O-acyl and O-alkenyl group compositions similar but not identical to those of the ethanolamine phospholipids of the same tissue. N-Acylethanolamine phospholipids were present in all subcellular fractions of carp brain, except mitochondria.     

Accumulation of N-acyl-ethanolamine phospholipids in rat brains during post-decapitative ischemia: a 31p NMR study

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy has been used to study accumulation of N-acyl-ethanolamine phospholipids in rat brains during post-decapitative ischemia. Lipids were extracted from rat brain homogenates and the extracts were thoroughly washed with aq. potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The lower organic phases were isolated and evaporated to dryness under a stream of nitrogen and the lipids were redissolved in CDCl3-CH3OH-H2O 100.0:29.9:5.2 (v/v/v) for NMR analysis. Increasing the period of post-decapitative ischemia resulted in an accumulation of two signals in the NMR spectra at 0.18 and 0.22 ppm (relative to the chemical shift of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PCDIACYL) at -0.84 ppm). These signals were identified as originating from 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine (NAPEDIACYL) and 1-(1'-alkenyl)-2-acyl-sn -glycero-3-phospho-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine (NAPEPLAS), respectively, by spiking with authentic materials. Additionally, the identification was verified by thin-layer chromatography, which also showed the accumulation of N-acyl-ethanolamine phospholipids. The use of K-EDTA instead of the commonly used Cs-EDTA in the preparation of the NMR samples allowed the separation of the chemical shifts of N-acyl-ethanolamine phospholipids from those of the ethanolamine phospholipids. Moreover, the chemical shift of cardiolipin was moved from 0.15 ppm observed with Cs-EDTA to about 0.31 ppm with K-EDTA.The present study demonstrates that it is possible to detect and quantify post-decapitative accumulation of NAPE subclasses (NAPEDIACYL and NAPEPLAS) in rat brains by the use of 31P NMR spectroscopy.     

Normal Myelin Composition and Phospholipid Synthesis in Adrenalectomized Rats with Reduced Brain Myelin and Glycerol 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity

The composition of CNS myelin was investigated in rats adrenalectomized at day 14 and killed 7 days later, previously shown to result in a 25% reduction in the amount of bulk-isolated myelin and a 40% decrease in brain glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. The proportions of the major myelin proteins, as well as the specific activity of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase, were the same in the myelin from both adrenalectomized and control animals. The amount of total phospholipid and the proportions of individual phospholipids were also normal in myelin from the adrenalectomized animals. The amount of nonmyelin phospholipid in whole brain was unchanged by adrenalectomy. Labeling studies carried out 4 days after adrenalectomy of 14-day-old animals showed no change in the synthesis rates of the major myelin phospholipids as compared with the synthesis rate of nonmyelin phospholipids. Furthermore, incorporation of [1,(3)-14C]glycerol into the glycerol moiety of ethanolamine plasmalogen, which requires glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was also normal, showing that the reduced oligodendroglial glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity following adrenalectomy was not rate-limiting for myelin phospholipid synthesis.     

Proposal for molecular mechanism of thionins deduced from physico-chemical studies of plant toxins.

We propose a molecular model for phospholipid membrane lysis by the ubiquitous plant toxins called thionins. Membrane lysis constitutes the first major effect exerted by these toxins that initiates a cascade of cytoplasmic events leading to cell death. X-ray crystallography, solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, small angle X-ray scattering and fluorescence spectroscopy provide evidence for the mechanism of membrane lysis. In the crystal structures of two thionins in the family, alpha(1)- and beta-purothionins (MW: approximately 4.8 kDa), a phosphate ion and a glycerol molecule are modeled bound to the protein. (31)P NMR experiments on the desalted toxins confirm phosphate-ion binding in solution. Evidence also comes from phospholipid partition experiments with radiolabeled toxins and with fluorescent phospholipids. This data permit a model of the phospholipid-protein complex to be built. Further, NMR experiments, one-dimensional (1D)- and two-dimensional (2D)-total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), carried out on the model compounds glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and short chain phospholipids, supported the predicted mode of phospholipid binding. The toxins' high positive charge, which renders them extremely soluble (>300 mg/mL), and the phospholipid-binding specificity suggest the toxin-membrane interaction is mediated by binding to patches of negatively charged phospholipids [phosphatidic acid (PA) or phosphatidyl serine (PS)] and their subsequent withdrawal. The formation of proteolipid complexes causes solubilization of the membrane and its lysis. The model suggests that the oligomerization may play a role in toxin's activation process and provides insight into the structural principles of protein-membrane interactions.     

High resolution 31P NMR of extracted phospholipids

The common phospholipids from biological sources were quantitated using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in conjunction with an analytical reagent composed of two parts: 1) 2 ml of reagent chloroform in which was dissolved 0.01-100 mg of crude tissue lipid extracted from tissue sources using chloroform-methanol 2:1, the extract having been washed with 0.2 vol. of 0.1 M KCl; 2) 1 ml of an aqueous methanol reagent composed of one part 0.2 M (ethylenedinitrilo)-tetraacetic acid in D2O titrated to pH 6 with CsOH and four parts of reagent methanol. In a magnetic field of 11.75 Tesla, the extracted phospholipids yield narrow signals (1.8-3.2 Hz at half-height), corresponding to each generic species, e.g., phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, etc., permitting resolution among the various phospholipid families and their lyso and plasmalogen derivatives. The reagent permits assays of high precision and accuracy using a modest amount of NMR spectrometer time (ca. 15 min/assay). The procedures described, which are compared to high-performance liquid chromatography, are convenient for the routine analysis of phospholipids from biological sources.     

Regulation of phosphate metabolism during intracellular lipid production inRhodotorula gracilis

Summary ³¹P NMR spectra of intact cells ofRhodotorula gracilis showed pH dependent inorganic phosphate (P_i) signals from two different compartments, namely, vacuole and cytoplasm. Clear distinction between growth phase and lipid accumulation phase was inferred by monitoring glycerol 3-phosphate and polyphosphate signals. The role of glycerol 3-phosphate in lipid production and the significance of polyphosphate accumulation during the same is discussed.     

Effect of Temperature and BASF 13 338 on the Lipid Composition and Respiration of Wheat Roots

The fatty acid composition of wheat seedling roots changed in response to temperature. As temperature declined, the level of linolenic acid increased and the level of linoleic acid decreased. The distribution of phospholipid classes was not influenced by temperature. Phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were the predominant phospholipids isolated and comprised 85% of the total lipid phosphorus. Smaller quantities of phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidyl serine were isolated. The fatty acid composition of phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were the same and temperature affected the fatty acid composition of both phospholipids in the same manner.Growth in the presence of the substituted pyridazinone, BASF 13 338 (4-chloro-5-dimethylamino-2-phenyl-3(2H)pyridazinone), reduced the level of linolenic acid and increased the level of linoleic acid in the phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and total polar lipid fractions. BASF 13 338 did not affect the levels of palmitate, stearate, and oleate or the distribution of phospholipid classes.Respiration rates of wheat root tips were measured over a range of temperatures. The respiration rate declined as the temperature decreased. Neither the temperature at which the tissue was grown nor BASF 13 338 treatment influenced the ability of root tips to respire at any temperature from 4 to 30 C. The results indicated that the relative proportion of linolenic acid to linoleic acid did not influence the plants ability to grow and respire over the range of temperatures tested.     

Phosphatidyl-Tris rather than N-acylphosphatidylserine is synthesized by Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides grown in Tris-containing media

We have synthesized 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho(N-oleoyl)serine (N-acyl-PS) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-Tris (phosphatidyl-Tris) and have characterized both phospholipids by their chemical and chromatographic properties, as well as by their IR, 13C NMR, and 1H NMR spectra. Comparison of these data with those reported for a phospholipid isolated from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides grown in Tris-supplemented media [Donohue et al. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 2765-2773] indicates that R. sphaeroides synthesizes phosphatidyl-Tris rather than N-acyl-PS.     

Identification and quantitation of phosphorus metabolites in yeast neutral pH extracts by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

(31)P NMR spectroscopy offers a possibility to obtain a survey of all low-molecular-weight phosphorylated compounds in yeast. The yeast cells have been extracted using chloroform into a neutral aqueous phase. The use of high fields and the neutral pH extracts, which are suitable for NMR analysis, results in well-resolved (31)P NMR spectra. Two-dimensional NMR experiments, such as proton-detected heteronuclear single quantum ((1)H-(31)P HSQC) and (31)P correlation spectroscopy ((31)P COSY), have been used to assign the resonances. In the phosphomonoester region many of the signals could be assigned to known metabolites in the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways, although some signals remain unidentified. Accumulation of ribulose 5-phosphate, xylulose 5-phosphate, and ribose 5-phosphate was observed in a strain lacking transketolase activity when grown in synthetic complete medium. No such accumulation occurred when the cells were grown in yeast-peptone-dextrose medium. Trimetaphosphate (intracellular concentration about 0.2 mM) was detected in both cold methanol-chloroform and perchloric acid extracts.     

Principles of multiparametric optimization for phospholipidomics by 31P NMR spectroscopy

Phospholipids have long been known to be the principal constituents of the bilayer matrix of cell membranes. While the main function of cell membranes is to provide physical separation between intracellular and extracellular compartments, further biological and biochemical functions for phospholipids have been identified more recently, notably in cell signaling, cell recognition and cell–cell interaction, but also in cell growth, electrical insulation of neurons and many other processes. Therefore, accurate and efficient determination of tissue phospholipid composition is essential for our understanding of biological tissue function. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy is a quantitative and fast method for analyzing phospholipid extracts from biological samples without prior separation. However, the number of phospholipid classes and subclasses that can be quantified separately and reliably in ³¹P NMR spectra of tissue extracts is critically dependent on a variety of experimental conditions. Until recently, little attention has been paid to the optimization of phospholipid ³¹P NMR spectra. This review surveys the basic physicochemical properties that determine the quality of phospholipid spectra, and describes an optimization strategy based on this assessment. Notably, the following experimental parameters need to be controlled for systematic optimization: (1) extract concentration, (2) concentration of chelating agent, (3) pH value of the aqueous component of the solvent system, and (4) temperature of the NMR measurement. We conclude that a multiparametric optimization approach is crucial to obtaining highly predictable and reproducible ³¹P NMR spectra of phospholipids.     

Al-ATP as an intracellular carrier of Al(III) ion.

1. Using 27Al and 31P NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with an Al lactate aqueous reagent at pH 7.2, Al complexes of ATP and of phospholipids were characterized in synthetic-aqueous and organic-phospholipid chemical systems and in the intact human red blood cell. 2. The observed 31P NMR chemical shifts of the Al-ATP complex in aqueous laboratory preparations or the intact human red blood cell were, respectively, alpha phosphate, -11.53 delta; beta phosphate, -22.65 delta; and gamma phosphate, -10.95 delta. 3. The observed complexed 27Al chemical shift was -2.22 delta. 4. The relative affinities for Al of the phospholipids determined from 31P NMR spectroscopic titrations were PA much greater than Cl much greater than PS greater than PG approximately equal to PI greater than PE plus approximately equal to PE much greater than SPH greater than PC.     

Metabolism of unusual membrane phospholipids in the marine sponge Microciona prolifera

Sponges are unique in regard to membrane phospholipid composition. Features virtually without parallel in other organisms are the predominance of the C26-C30 polyenoic acids (demospongic acids) in the phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and the attachment of identical acyl groups to the glycerol moiety. The biosynthesis and disposition of these unusual phospholipids were followed in the marine sponge Microciona prolifera where PE ( delta 5,9-26:2, delta 5,9-26:2) is a major molecular species. Incorporation experiments with radiolabeled fatty acids, bases, and intact phospholipids revealed the de novo biosynthesis of the two major phosphatides, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC), via the cytidine pathway as in higher animals, with ethanolamine selectively incorporated into PE( delta 5,9-26:2, delta 5,9-26:2). Methylation of PE and random acyl chain migration across different phospholipid classes were marginal, but the exchange of PC for PE, apparently mediated by the action of phospholipase, was indicated after uptake of the unnatural PC( delta 9-27:1, delta 9-26:1). The present study demonstrates in the most primitive multicellular animals a phospholipid metabolic pattern similar to that in higher organisms, with unique acyl and phosphoethanolamine transferases apparently involved in the biosynthesis of the (demospongic) di-C26-acyl-PE molecular species.     

Substrate channeling in the glycerol-3-phosphate pathway regulates the synthesis,storage and secretion of glycerolipids

The successive acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) by glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases and acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases produces phosphatidic acid (PA), a precursor for CDP-diacylglycerol-dependent phospholipid synthesis. PA is further dephosphorylated by LIPINs to produce diacylglycerol (DG), a substrate for the synthesis of triglyceride (TG) by DG acyltransferases and a precursor for phospholipid synthesis via the CDP-choline and CDP–ethanolamine (Kennedy) pathways. The channeling of fatty acids into TG for storage in lipid droplets and secretion in lipoproteins or phospholipids for membrane biogenesis is dependent on isoform expression, activity and localization of G3P pathway enzymes, as well as dietary and hormonal and tissue-specific factors. Here, we review the mechanisms that control partitioning of substrates into lipid products of the G3P pathway.     

Membrane phospholipid synthesis in Escherichia coli: alteration by glycerol and physiological consequences in a pss mutant

Escherichia coli mutants harboring the pss-1 allele (coding for a temperature-sensitive phosphatidylserine synthase) are temperature sensitive for growth and synthesize less phosphatidylethanolamine at higher temperatures, giving rise to abnormal membrane phospholipid compositions. To obtain information concerning the determinant for the phospholipid polar headgroup composition and the lethal factor in the defective membranes, we have examined the effect of increased supply of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate on the phospholipid synthesis and the growth ability of a pss-1 mutant. For this purpose, a pair of E. coli K-12 derivatives isogenic except for the pss-1 allele was constructed from strain BB26-36 to harbor the mutations related to glycerol metabolism (glpD3, glpR2, glpKi, and phoA8). Pulse- and uniform-labeling of phospholipids with 32P at 42 degrees C in a synthetic medium with (0.2%) or without glycerol showed that glycerol further lowered the temperature-sensitive formation of phosphatidylethanolamine, removed the phosphatidate and CDP-diacylglycerol accumulated in the absence of glycerol, and resulted in an increase in cardiolipin content in the pss-1 mutant. The phospholipid synthesis and contents in the pss+ strain were not significantly affected by glycerol. Glycerol in the medium markedly enhanced the growth defect of the pss-1 mutant, which was remediable by sucrose. The results indicate that the intracellular pool of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate is the limiting factor for acidic phospholipid synthesis in the pss-1 mutant, and cardiolipin unusually accumulated is injurious to the functional E. coli membranes. Possible determinants for the phospholipid composition of the wild-type E. coli cells are also discussed on the basis of the present observations.     

Changes in phospholipid composition of Thiobacillus neapolitanus during growth

Summary During the stationary growth phase, the phospholipids of Thiobacillus neapolitanus consisted of phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), diphosphatidyl glycerol (DPG), phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine (PME) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) in increasing amounts. In general, the phospholipids increased to a maximum concentration during the stationary phase and then decreased in concentration. Individually, PG and PE increased to a maximum in late lag or early exponential phase and then decreased in concentration. DPG and PME increased during the transition between the exponential and the stationary phase and reached a maximum concentration in the stationary phase. In older cultures, a quantitative interconversion between PG and DPG and PE and PME was observed. A lyso-phospholipid compound also appeared in the late stationary phase.The phospholipid composition of the culture supernatant fluid was essentially similar to that of the cells at all stages of growth. No excessive secretion of these products into the medium was observed at any growth stage of the culture.Abbreviations used PG Phosphatidyl glycerol - DPG Diphosphatidyl glycerol - PME Phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine - PE Phosphatidyl ethanolamine - GPGPG Glycerophosphoryl glycerophosphoryl glycerol - GPG Glycerophosphoryl glycerol - GPE Glycerophosphoryl ethanolamine - GPME Glycerophosphoryl-N-monomethylethanolamine     

Effects of analogues of ethanolamine and choline on phospholipid metabolism in rat hepatocytes

1. Analogues of ethanolamine and choline were incubated with different labelled precursors of phospholipids and isolated hepatocytes and the effects on phospholipid synthesis were studied. 2. 2-Aminopropan-1-ol and 2-aminobutan-1-ol were the most efficient inhibitors of [(14)C]ethanolamine incorporation into phospholipids, whereas the incorporation of [(3)H]choline was inhibited most extensively by NN-diethylethanolamine and NN-dimethylethanolamine. 3. When the analogues were incubated with [(3)H]glycerol and hepatocytes, the appearance of (3)H in unnatural phospholipids indicated that they were incorporated, at least in part, via CDP-derivatives. The distribution of [(3)H]glycerol among molecular species of phospholipids containing 2-aminopropan-1-ol and 1-aminopropan-2-ol was the same as in phosphatidylethanolamine. In other phospholipid analogues the distribution of (3)H was more similar to that in phosphatidylcholine. 4. NN-Diethylethanolamine stimulated both the conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine into phosphatidylcholine and the incorporation of [Me-(14)C]methionine into phospholipids. Other N-alkyl- or NN-dialkyl-ethanolamines also stimulated [(14)C]methionine incorporation, but inhibited the conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine into phosphatidylcholine. This indicates that phosphatidyl-NN-diethylethanolamine is a poor methyl acceptor, in contrast with other N-alkylated phosphatidylethanolamines. 5. These results on the regulation of phospholipid metabolism in intact cells are discussed with respect to the possible control points. They also provide guidelines for future experiments on the manipulation of phospholipid polar-headgroup composition in primary cultures of hepatocytes.     

31P NMR spectroscopic studies on purified, native and cloned, expressed forms of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.

31P NMR spectroscopy has been utilized in conjunction with site-directed mutagenesis and phospholipid analysis to determine structural aspects of the prosthetic flavins, FAD and FMN, of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Comparisons are made among detergent-solubilized and protease (steapsin)-solubilized preparations of porcine liver reductases, showing unequivocally that the 31P NMR signals at approximately 0.0 ppm in the detergent-solubilized, hydrophobic form are attributable to phospholipids. By extraction and TLC analysis, the phospholipid contents of detergent-solubilized rat liver reductase, both tissue-purified and Escherichia coli-expressed, have been determined to reflect the membranes from which the enzyme was extracted. In addition, the cloned, wild-type NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase exhibits an additional pair of signals downfield of the normal FAD pyrophosphate resonances reported by Otvos et al. [(1986) Biochemistry 25, 7220-7228], but these signals are not observed with tissue-purified or mutant enzyme preparations. The Tyr140----Asp140 mutant, which exhibits only 20% of wild-type activity, displays no gross changes in 31P NMR spectra. However, the Tyr178----Asp178 mutant, which has no catalytic activity and does not bind FMN, exhibits no FMN 31P NMR signal and a normal, but low intensity, pair of signals for FAD. The latter experiments, taking advantage of mutations in residues putatively on either side of the FMN isoalloxazine ring, suggest subtle to severe changes in the binding of the flavin prosthetic groups and, perhaps, cooperative interactions of flavin binding to NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.     

Induction of the lactose transport system in a lipid-synthesis-defective mutant of Escherichia coli

In order to relate the biogenesis of the lactose transport system to lipid synthesis, a glycerol-requiring mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 with a specific defect in l-glycerol-3-phosphate synthesis was isolated and characterized. The defective enzyme is the biosynthetic l-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [l-glycerol-3-phosphate: NAD (P) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8] which functions as a dihydroxyacetone phosphate reductase to provide l-glycerol-3-phosphate for lipid synthesis. In this mutant, removal of glycerol from the growth medium results in inhibition of the synthesis of protein, deoxyribonucleic acid, and phospholipid. Inhibition of phospholipid synthesis immediately follows glycerol removal, whereas the inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein synthesis is preceded by a short lag period. Glycerol starvation does not change the turnover pattern of previously synthesized phospholipids. The blocking of lipid synthesis by glycerol starvation causes a drastic decrease in inducibility of beta-galactoside transport activity relative to beta-galactosidase, indicating that induction of lactose transport requires de novo lipid synthesis.     

Gramicidin-induced hexagonal HII phase formation in erythrocyte membranes

Using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and freeze-fracture electron microscopic (FFEM) techniques, it is shown that gramicidin induces a hexagonal HII phase not only in liposomes prepared from total lipids extracted from human erythrocytes but also in isolated human erythrocyte membranes (white ghosts). A 37 degrees C, HII phase formation is detected at a gramicidin to phospholipid molar ratio exceeding 1:80. At a molar ratio of 1:5, about 30% of the phospholipid is organized in the HII phase. The gramicidin-induced HII phase exhibits a very small 31P chemical shift anisotropy [(CSA) approximately 10 +/- 1 ppm], indicating decreased head-group order, and it displays a temperature-dependent increase in tube diameter from 60.2 A at 4 degrees C to 64.2 A at 37 degrees C in ghosts and from 62.8 to 69.4 A at 37 degrees C in total lipid extracts, both in the presence of 1 mol of gramicidin/10 mol of phospholipid. This anomalous temperature-dependent behavior is probably due to the presence of cholesterol. 31P NMR data indicate that the HII phase formation by gramicidin is temperature dependent and show the gradual disappearance of the HII phase at low temperatures (less than 20 degrees C), resulting in a bilayer type of 31P NMR line shape at 4 degrees C, whereas SAXS and FFEM data suggest equal amounts of HII phases at all temperatures. This apparent discrepancy is probably the result of a decrease in the rate of lateral diffusion of the membrane phospholipids which leads to incomplete averaging of the 31P CSA in the HII phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

On the relationship between glycerophosphoglycolipids and lipoteichoic acids in Gram-positive bacteria. II. Structures of glycerophosphoglycolipids.

1. Eight glycerophosphoglycolipids were isolated from six Gram-positive bacteria. Besides sn-glycero-1-phospho-beta-gentiobiosyldiacylglycerol (i) and sn-glycero-1-phospho-alpha-kojibiosyldiacylglycerol (ii), three novel structures have been established: 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-[6-(sn-glycero-1-phospho)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 2)-(6-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)]glycerol (iii), 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-[6-(sn-glycero-1-phospho)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 6)-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]glycerol (iv), and 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-[6-(sn-glycero-1-phospho)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 leads to 6)-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 leads to 2)-(6-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)]glycerol (v). 2. Compound i was isolated from Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, compound ii from a group B Streptococcus, compounds ii and iii from Streptococcus lactis, compounds iv and v from Lactobacillus casei. Lactobacillus plantarum contained besides compounds iv and v a glycerophosphate derivative of 1,2-di-O-acyl-3-O-[alpha-D-galactopyranosyl (1 leads to 2)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]glycerol. 3. Identical structural features of the described glycerophosphoglycolipids and the corresponding lipoteichoic acids are discussed.