Phospholipid molecular species distribution of oral Prevotella corporis clinical isolates

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of phospholipid molecular species within Prevotella corporis of oral origin. Phospholipids of fresh clinical isolates were extracted and analysed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) in negative-ion mode. The major monocarboxylate anion peaks, with putative identification, observed for Prevotella corporis were m/z 241, C(15:0); 255, C(16:0); 269, C(17:1); 277, C(18:3); 279, C(18:2); 281, C(18:1). In the high mass region, major anion peaks putatively identified as individual phospholipid (PL) molecular species of Prevotella corporis were of m/z 677, PG(29:1); 691, PG(30:1); 705, PG(31:1); 706, first isotope peak of PG(31:1); and 707, PG(31:0). Related species have a different distribution of PL analogues. Separation of extracted lipid families by TLC confirmed that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are the major polar lipids (PLs) in Prevotella corporis. Thus Prevotella corporis has a unique combination of phospholipid analogues of chemosystematic significance.