Figure 4.

Association of antimicrobial lipids with P. gingivalis lipids after treatment as seen by whole cell lipid extractions and separation by TLC. Densiometry measurements of the chromatograms were used to estimate the total extracted lipid weight in each of the treated and untreated samples as well as controls. Percentage of lipid uptake by P. gingivalis was calculated by dividing the total extracted lipid weight by the total weight of lipid added to each sample. Because P. gingivalis membranes naturally contain dihydrosphingosine, we normalized the sphingoid base calculations (indicated by an asterisk) by subtracting the total sphingoid base present in untreated samples. Controls included the same concentration of lipids in media, processed along with samples to test the abilitity of the lipids to stick to the sides of the tube or pellet down with the bacteria.