Characterization of a glycophospholipid of Streptococcus pyogenes-derived L-form

A glycophospholipid was detected as a major lipid in the L-form derived from Streptococcus pyogenes. The glycophospholipid was purified and chemically analyzed. From its phosphorus:glucose:glycerol molar ratio of 1:2:2 and mass spectrum, the deacylated glycophospholipid was identified as glycerophosphoryldiglucosylglycerol. This structural assignment was confirmed by thin layer chromatography of the lipid itself, which comigrated with known phosphatidyldiglucosyldiglyceride from S. faecalis. A possible mechanism for biosynthesis of the glycophospholipid in the L-form that invokes known biosynthetic processes involved in glycophospholipid metabolism in related bacteria is proposed.