Thin-Layer Chromatography to Separate Phospholipids and Neutral Lipids from Yeast

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a versatile technique for the separation of lipid classes. It provides excellent resolution, can be used for both preparative and analytical applications, and does not require expensive equipment. Here we describe the use of different solvent systems to separate yeast phospholipids and neutral lipids by TLC in one dimension. Resolved lipid species are visualized by iodine vapor or by charring after treatment with sulfuric acid and manganese chloride. Neither of these staining techniques yields a quantitative readout because the mixture of various lipids in yeast affects iodine absorption and charring efficiency; standard curves are required to obtain semiquantitative estimates of the relative lipid composition.