Alteration of phospholipid at various growth phases of Escherichia coli

By inoculating E. coli B into the semisynthetic medium we conducted shaking culture, and observed alterations of the total phospholipid contents and the amounts of individual phospholipid components in various stages of growth. The results are briefly summarized as follows. 1. The total phospholipid content has been found to be greater during early culture period, while it decreases as the growth age advances. 2. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine gradually increase as the culture period approaches the stationary phase. 3. Phosphatidic acid and phosphatidyl glycerol decrease precipitously as growth age advances. 4. Cardiolipin shows the maximum content in the middle log phase when the growth rate is most speedy.