DETERMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF A NOVEL GLYCOLIPID FROM THERMUS-AQUATICUS-15004 AND DEMONSTRATION THAT HYDROXY FATTY-ACIDS ARE AMIDE-LINKED TO GLYCOLIPIDS IN THERMUS SPP

The compositions of the major glycolipids (GL-1) of five strains of Th ermus aquaticus, the type strain of T. filiformis, T. oshimai SPS-11, and Thermus sp. strain CG-2 were examined by gas chromatography, gas c hromatography-mass spectroscopy, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrosco py, and chemical methods. The results showed that, with the exception of T. aquaticus 15004, the organisms each have a major glycolipid whos e structure was established as diglycosyl-(N-acyl)glycosaminyl-glycosy l diacylglycerol. Glucosamine was present in GL-1 of T. oshimai SPS-11 and Thermus sp. strain CG-2, while galactosamine was present in the G L-1 of T. aquaticus and T. filiformis. The novel major glycolipid of T . aquaticus 15004 was identified as tyl)galactosaminyl-(N-acyl)galacto saminyl-glucosyl diavylglycerol. The hydroxy fatty acids found in the T. aquaticus strains and in the type strain of T. filiformis were excl usively amide linked to the galactosamine of the major glycolipid. Est er-linked hydroxy fatty acids were not detected in the diacylglycerol moiety of GL-1 of these organisms. Hydroxy fatty acids were detected n either in the major glycolipid of T. oshimai SPS-11 and Thermus sp. st rain CG-2, in which glucosamine is present, nor in the major phospholi pid of any of the strains examined.