Phospholipids of Trypanosoma lewisi, T. vivax T. congolense, and T. brucei

Abstract

The mean lipid content of various isolates of Trypanosoma lell'isi, T. vivax, T. congolellse, and T. brucei ranged from 12.3 to 19.4% of the dry weight. The total lipid phosphorus in most isolations was similar, the means ranging from 2.17 to 2.61 mg of phosphorus per 100 mg of lipid; one isolation of T. vivax, however, had a mean of 2.07, which was significantly different from another of the same species. Five main phosphoruscontaining fractions were separated by thin-layer chromatography; four were identified as the phospholipids: lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, lecithin, and phosphatidyl ethanolamine, while the other fraction could not be identified. Two further minor phosphorus-containing fractions were sometimes seen but their identities were unknown.