Figure 1.

LpqN contributes to biofilm lipid composition in late biofilm cultures. Mtb was grown in either complete 7H9 medium or Sauton's medium lacking Tween for planktonic and biofilm cultures, respectively. Mtb cell envelope surface lipids were harvested by hexanes extraction from planktonic culture (A) or from biofilms harvested at 3 (B and D) or 4 (E) weeks and analyzed via TLC. mAGP was isolated from planktonic Mtb cell walls and MAMEs generated and visualized by TLC (C). The solvent systems used for TLC were 80:20:2, v/v/v, CHCl₃:MeOH:NH₄OH (A and B); 99:5, v/v, hexanes:ethyl acetate (C); and 99:1, v/v, toluene:acetone (D and E). TDM, TMM, triacylglycerol (TAG), and wax ester (WE) standards are indicated (Sigma). All TLCs were developed by charring in 10% molybdophosphoric acid. In E, * and ** indicate species that accumulate in the lpqN mutant.