Fatty acids of the triglycerides and phospholipids of HeLa cells and strain L fibroblasts*

Abstract

Lipids of strain L fibroblasts (mouse), grown in chemically defined medium, contained approximately 20% 16:0, 5% 16:1, 20% 18:0, and 50% 18:1 acids; and small amounts of 12:0, 14:0, 15:0, 15:1, and 20:0 acids. No polyunsaturated acids, such as 18:2, were present. The distribution of the fatty acids in the phospholipids and triglycerides was similar. When grown in the presence of dialyzed serum, 18:2 acid was found in the cells and replaced 18:1 acid. Lipids of two lines of HeLa cells (human), grown with serum present, contained at least 20 fatty acids of which 16:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, and 18:2 were dominant. The phospholipids contained considerably more 18:2 acid than did the triglycerides, the principal unsaturated acid in which was 18:1. Cells contaminated with pleuropneumonia-like organisms also showed this difference in distribution.