Structural components of sphingophosphonolipids from the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena pyriformis WH-14

J Biochem. 1979 Aug;86(2):281-8. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a132525.

Abstract

1. Two sphingophosphonolipids were isolated from the lipids of the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena pyriformis WH-14. They were ceramide N-methyl-2-aminoethylphosphonate (CMAEP) and ceramide 2-aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP), in yields of 0.05 mg/g and 1.74 mg/g dry cells, respectively. 2. Two chromatographically distinguishable CAEP species were found, a slow-moving major component and a minor component which moved faster; the slow-moving one contained primarily hydroxy fatty acids, while in the other one nonhydroxy fatty acids were predominant. However, their long-chain base constituents were similar. 3. The major fatty acids of CAEP were 2-hydroxy acids with carbon numbers of 16 to 19, which were almost exclusively iso-types. The fatty acids of CMAEP consisted mainly of palmitic, iso-octadecanoic, and 2-hydroxy iso-heptadecanoic acids. 4. The long-chain bases were dominated by C16, C17, and C19 iso-4-sphingenine homologs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ceramides / analysis
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Organophosphonates / analysis
  • Sphingolipids / analysis*
  • Tetrahymena pyriformis / analysis*

Substances

  • Ceramides
  • Fatty Acids
  • Organophosphonates
  • Sphingolipids