POLAR LIPIDS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-STRAINS ANALYZED BY FAST-ATOM-BOMBARDMENT MASS-SPECTROMETRY

This study used fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB MS) to ob tain detailed information on polar lipids of Staphylococcus by examini ng 23 isolates. Eighteen major anions were found in the range m/z 199- 297, consistent with the presence of carboxylate anions. A further 21 major anions were found in the higher mass regions of m/z 609-805, con sistent with the presence of phospholipid anions. In Staph. aureus, St aph. epidermidis, Staph. haemolyticus and Staph. hominis, the most int ense peaks putatively assigned as carboxylate ions were consistent wit h presence of C-15:0, followed by C-17:0 except in the case of Staph. epidermidis. The major phospholipid anions were consistent with the pr esence of PG(30:0), PG(32:0) and PG(33:0). It is concluded that Staphy lococcus has a characteristic polar lipid profile and that qualitative and quantitative differences may be seen between Staph. aureus and St aph. epidermidis.