Tetrahymena Thermophila: Analysis of Phospholipids and Phosphonolipids by High-field 1H-NMR

The phospholipids of control and lipid-modified Tetrahymena thermophila were identified and quantified, using 1-D and 2-D COSY proton NMR spectroscopy on intact lipids, before and after HPLC separation. The results are comparable to those obtained using classical lipid analytical techniques. The results indicate that the study of enzyme pathways and other metabolic processes involving phospholipids in Tetrahymena and related protozoa can be carried out using proton NMR spectroscopy as the investigating technique.