Effect of Cerulenin on Growth and Lipid Metabolism of Mycoplasmas

Abstract

Cerulenin markedly inhibited the growth of Acholeplasma laidlawii. A. axanthum and A. granularum were less susceptible, whereas the sterol-requiring Mycoplasma species examined showed very little susceptibility. The inhibition was not reversed by the addition of long-chain fatty acids to the medium. At a concentration of 20 ug/ml, cerulenin inhibited the incorporation of ['4C]acetate into A. laidlawii membrane lipids, but it had no effect on either protein or nucleic acid biosynthesis. Cerulenin inhibited both the de novo synthesis of longchain fatty acids and the elongation of medium-chain fatty acids. As a result, carotenoid biosynthesis was stimulated, and increased amounts of oleic and elaidic acids were incorporated into membrane polar lipids. Our studies support the concept that cerulenin can serve as a useful tool for obtaining better control of fatty acid composition of A. laidlawii membranes.

Control of membrane lipids in Mycoplasma gallisepticum: effect on lipid order

“…The extent of membrane incorporation of the fatty acid(s) added to the growth medium was comparable to the extent of incorporation obtained under similar conditions with M. mycoides subsp. capri (13,33) and with Acholeplasma laidlawii grown in the absence of cerulenin or avidin (8,22,30). High cholesterol a Media contained 0.9 utg of exogenous cholesterol per ml and either 10 jg of one fatty acid (sodium salt) per ml (C160, C18lc, C18:1) or 5 yg of C16:0 (sodium salt) per ml and 5 jg of Cm8ic (sodium salt) per ml.…”

The mycoplasmas.

“…Thus, although exogenous fatty acids are incorporated into membrane lipids, forming as much as 50 to 85% of the fatty acids in the membrane, a biosynthetic background of lauric, myristic, and palnitic acids always exists (123,240). Cerulenin was found to inhibit both the de novo synthesis of long-chain fatty acids and the elongation of medium-chain fatty acids by A. laidlawii (262,277). This inhibitor can thus be applied to reduce the biosynthetic background and to obtain better control of the fatty acid composition of A. laidlawii membrane lipids (262).…”

“…Cerulenin was found to inhibit both the de novo synthesis of long-chain fatty acids and the elongation of medium-chain fatty acids by A. laidlawii (262,277). This inhibitor can thus be applied to reduce the biosynthetic background and to obtain better control of the fatty acid composition of A. laidlawii membrane lipids (262). Recent data throw more light on the fatty acid-synthesizing capacity of mycoplasmas other than A. laidlawii.…”

Redirecting Metabolic Flux towards the Mevalonate Pathway for Enhanced β-Carotene Production in M. circinelloides CBS 277.49

“…It binds irreversibly to fatty acid synthase, specifically b-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase. It was previously used as a useful compound to control fatty acid composition in Mycoplasma species and to investigate the effect of cerulenin on growth [ 39 ].…”