Fig. 9.

Analysis of the extractable lipids and cell wall-bound mycolates from M. smegmatis mc²155 and the aftD single crossover strain SCO1. (A) Equal amounts of total cellular lipids from WT M. smegmatis mc²155 and the aftD single crossover strain SCO1 were analyzed by TLC developed in the solvent system chloroform/methanol/water (20:4:0.5). (B) Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and mycolic acid methyl esters (MAMEs) prepared from the same amount of WT and SCO1 extractable lipids and (C) cell wall-bound MAMEs prepared from the same amount of WT and SCO1 cells were analyzed by TLC developed thrice in the solvent system n-hexane/ethyl acetate (95:5). TLC plates were revealed by spraying with cupric sulfate (10% in a 8% phosphoric acid solution) and heating. Analyses reveal an increase in the MAME content of the extractable lipids from strain SCO1 (B) consistent with the greater quantities of TDM recovered from this strain (A).