REGULATION OF PHOSPHOLIPID-SYNTHESIS IN MYCOBACTERIUM-SMEGMATIS BY CYCLIC ADENOSINE-MONOPHOSPHATE

Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator and a cyclic AMP analogue, d ibutyryl cyclic AMP have been used to examine the relationship between intracellular levels of cyclic AMP and lipid synthesis in Mycobacteri um smegmatis. Total phospholipid content was found to be increased in forskolin grown cells as a result of increased cyclic AMP levels cause d by activation of adenylate cyclase. Increased phospholipid content w as supported by increased [C-14] acetate incorporation as well as incr eased activity of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. Pretreatment o f cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP had similar effects on lipid synthes is. Taking all these observations together it is suggested that lipid synthesis is being controlled by cyclic AMP in mycobacteria.