FATTY-ACID AND LIPID-COMPOSITION OF MUCOR LUSITANICUS IN RELATION TO ITS DIMORPHIC GROWTH UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS

Yeastlike cells of the Mucor lusitanicus fungus were obtained under ae robic conditions under the action of chloraniline or the acidification of the medium. A correlation was found between changes in the morphol ogy and the lipid composition of the cells. In yeastlike cells, the fr action of polyunsaturated fatty acids amounted to about 10%, whereas i n hyphal cells it comprised 30% and more. In the neutral fraction of l ipids of yeastlike cells, the triglyceride and sterol content was lowe r than in hyphal cells. In the polar fraction, the content of phosphat idylserine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phospha tidylinositol was reduced; the main phospholipid was phosphatidylglyce rol.