Tetrahymena thermophila disA mutants exhibit aberrant levels of phosphatidylethanolamine

Tetrahymena thermophila wild type strain B 1868 and I: thermophila disA mut ant were examined for total phospholipid composition by radiolabeling whole cells with [P-32]orthophosphate, [H-3]myristic acid, and [H-3]acetate. Per cent distribution of radioactivity into individual phospholipid classes was determined by scintillation counting or by autoradiography following chrom atography of total lipid extracts on silica gel thin layer plates, A signif icant reduction in radiolabel incorporation into the disA mutant phosphatid ylethanolamine fraction was observed in all radiolabeling experiments.