The lipids of Agaricus bisporus

A comparison of the lipid composition of the vegetative and reproductive stages of Agaricus bisporus revealed no major qualitative differences, although quantitative divergence exist. The glycolipids consisted of acylglucoses, acylmannitol, acyltrehalose and a glucosyloxyfatty acid. Two of the acylglucoses corresponded to a tetra-acylglucose and to either a di- or a triacylglucose. The phospholipids were distinctive in that phosphatidylcholine could not be detected. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine were the major phosphoglycerides. Examination of the neutral lipids revealed the expected array of acylglycerols, free and esterified sterols, and free fatty acids. A substantial amount (26 to 33%) of the fatty acids of the neutral lipids from both sporophore and mycelium were apparently of chain length greater than C18. Linoleic acid was a minor component of the total neutral-lipid fatty acids but comprised about one-half of the total free fatty acids.