[Lipid component of Streptomyces levoris membranes]

The total composition of membranes is characterized in Streptomyces levoris producing the polyene antibiotic levorin in the course of its growth; the lipid component has been studied in detail. The membranes contained protein (50--55%), lipids (37--40%), carbohydrates (3--4%), and RNA (2--3%). The ratio between the main components hardly changed with age and only the content of total phosphorus in the membranes decreased noticeably. The lipid component was represented mainly by polar lipids (80--90%); phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl inositolmannoside and cardiolipin prevalied. The content of phospholipids in the fraction of polar lipids gradually decreased. The possibility of substituting phospholipids by analogues containing no phosphorus is discussed. The fatty acid spectrum of membranous lipids was represented mainly by saturated fatty acids with a branched chain of the iso and anteiso series, and changed with age only to a minor extent.