NMR lipid profile of Agaricus bisporus

Lipids extracted from freeze dried and powdered cultivated Agaricus bisporu s by the Bligh and Dwyer method, were subjected to 1D-proton and 2D-COSY NM R analysis. The diacylglycerophospholipids, mono-, di- and tri-glycerides, ether lipids, sphingolipids and steroidal lipids were studied qualitatively and quantitatively. Our findings suggested that (a) ethanolamines and chol ines were the predominant diacylphospholipids, (b) sterols, mainly ergoster ol, were present in relatively large quantities and (c) the phospholipid fa tty acid composition consisted almost exclusively of linoleic acid. This ty pe of detailed data on lipid composition was accurately and rapidly obtaine d in one step, without chemical modification of the sample. Additional info rmation on four classes of lipid, including their fatty acid composition wa s obtained after separating the total lipid extract by NH2-aminopropyl Cert ify II Bond Elut solid phase chromatography and analysing the NMR spectra o f each class of lipids. The results demonstrated the potential of the metho d for the study of plant metabolism, development and taxonomy. (C) 1999 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.