Separation and analysis of P-labeled phospholipids by a simple and rapid thin-layer chromatographic procedure and its application to cultured neuroblastoma cells

A two-directional thin-layer chromatographic method for the rapid analysis of phospholipids from cultured cells is described. The procedure permits reliable separation of the common and minor phospholipid species using regular silica gel G chromatoplates. It is based primarily on the shortening of the running distances of the developing solvents and the use of suitable solvent systems. The method has been used to study changes in the patterns of ³²P-labeled phospholipids in cultured cells under a variety of growth conditions. It is shown that, in the presence of -propranolol, incorporation of ³²P into choline and ethanolamine phospholipids is markedly reduced, whereas an increase of label in phosphatidylglycerol is observed. The latter may serve as a precursor for lysobisphosphatidic acid formation. Following treatment of cells with dimethylaminoethanol, a high proportion of label is incorporated into dimethylethanolamine phosphoglycerides.