[Membrane composition of Actinomyces hygroscopicus in the course of growth and development]

The membranes of actinomycetes do not differ from the membranes of other prokaryotes in the content of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and RNA, Lipids are represented mainly by phospholipids, particularly by phosphatidyl ethanolamine, cardiolipine, and phosphatidyl glycerol. The fatty acid composition of phospholipids does not change in the course of growth, and is represented by 80 per cent with branched fatty acids having 15-17 carbon atoms. Over 20 fractions are found in proteins isolated from the membranes of actinomycetes grown for 1-3 days and studied by means of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, and only 7-8 fractions, in the membranes of actinomycetes cultivated during 5-7 days.