Metabolism of phosphoglycerides in E. coli IV. The positional specificity and properties of phospbolipase A

Abstract

The hydrolysis of labelled phosphatidylethanolamine by E. coli was studied in vitro. Phospholipase A, as detected by 32P-labelled lysophosphatidylethanolamine formation, had two pH optima, 5 and 8.4. On the other hand lysophosphofipase was active only in the alkaline range, had a pH optimum of 10, and was inhibited by high concentrations of either sodium deoxycholate or sodium lauryl sulfate. Phospholipase A required Ca2+ addition for maximal activity at both pH optima. Mg2+ also stimulated the activity but other divalent cations tested were slightly inhibitory or without effect. Sodium lauryl sulfate completely inhibited at pH 5. Experiments with singly and doubly labelled phosphatidylethanolamine indicated that phospholipase A1 activity was predominant at both acid and alkaline pH. Lower levels of phospholipase A2 were detectable only at alkaline pH.