Effects of external osmolarity on phospholipid metabolism in Escherichia coli B

The turnover of total [(32)P]phospholipids in Escherichia coli B is shown to be inversely related to the osmolarity of the medium and a reflection of the rates of turnover of the major phospholipid classes, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. External osmolarity also affects the phosphatidylglycerol content of the culture. These results suggest that alterations in the metabolism of membrane phospholipids may be part of the process of adaptation to the external osmotic environment.