Biosynthesis of Cardiolipin in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Cell-free particulate fractions from Escherichia coli have been found to catalyze the synthesis of cardiolipin from cytidine diphosphate diglyceride and l -glycerol 3-phosphate. Evidence is presented that phosphatidylglycerol is the immediate precursor of cardiolipin in a reaction involving the transfer of a phosphatidyl moiety from CDP-diglyceride.