Chromatographic and radioisotopic investigations of the lipid components of runner bean leaves.

Abstract

The total lipids of runner bean leaves have been separated by chromatography on silicic acid-impregnated paper into at least eleven components. These have been partially identified by their Rf values, staining behaviour with various specific reagents, radioisotope incorporation data, and products of milk alkaline hydrolysis. Apart from pigments and glycerides, six phosphatide components were found, five of which have been identified as lecithin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl inositol and phosphatidic acid; also, four distinct glycolipids, and a sulfur-containing lipid were detected. Hydrolysis studies showed that the four glycolipids contained galactose, glucose, glycerol and an unknown sugar in different molecular proportions, and that the sulfolipid contained glucose, the same unknown sugar, and an acid-stable form of sulfur.