Novel Polyoxyethylene-Containing Glycolipids Are Synthesized in Corynebacterium matruchotii and Mycobacterium smegmatis Cultured in the Presence of Tween 80.

ABSTRACT: The addition of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) to a culture of mycobacteria greatly influences cell permeability and sensitivity to antibiotics but very little is known regarding the underlying mechanism. Here we show that Corynebacterium matruchotii (surrogate of mycobacteria) converts Tween 80 to a structural series of polyoxyethylenic acids which are then used to form novel series-2A and series-2B glycolipids. Minor series-3 glycolipids were also synthesized. The polyoxyethylenic acids replaced corynomycolic acids in the cell wall. Correspondingly the trehalose dicorynomycolate content was reduced. MALDI mass spectrometry, MS-MS, (1)H-NMR, and (13)C-NMR were used to characterize the series-2 glycolipids. Series-2A glycolipid is trehalose 6-C(36:2)-corynomycolate-6'-polyo

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3066834 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature