POLAR LIPIDS OF ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS, ASPERGILLUS-NIGER, ASPERGILLUS-NIDULANS, ASPERGILLUS-FLAVUS AND A-TERREUS

Little is known of the phospholipid composition of Aspergillus species . The aim of this study was to determine individual phospholipid analo gues in Aspergillus. Twenty-nine clinical and environmental isolates f rom five Aspergillus species were analysed. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric data were considered in two ranges, m/z 190-500 and m/z 500-1000, to facilitate the recognition of major fatty acyl groups an d phospholipids. Quantitative comparison of major anions in both m/z r anges was undertaken. Confirmation of major phospholipid anions from e ight representative isolates was achieved by tandem mass spectrometry. The major phospholipid families were phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphat idylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylseri ne (PS). Anions were detected consistent with the presence of specific phospholipid moieties, such as palmitoyl-linolenoyl phosphatidic acid , palmitoyl-oleoylphosphatidylethenolamine oleoyl-linoleoyl-phophatidy lserine and palmitoyl-linoleoyl-phosphatidylinositol It appears that t here is some commonality of sn1 or sn2 fatty acyl substituents, freque ntly C-18:2 at sn1 accompanied by C-16:0 at sn2, with differing molecu lar weights being attributable to analogues with differing head groups . Differences in certain phospholipids (e.g. minor peak with m/z 933) were detected between A. fumigatus, A. nidulans and other species exam ined which could have diagnostic value.