Phosphatidylglycerol and Related Lipids

Phosphatidylglycerol is found in almost all bacterial types. For example, Escherichia coli, a widely studied organism, has up to 20% of phosphatidylglycerol in its membranes (phosphatidylethanolamine makes up much of the rest with a little cardiolipin). In many bacteria, the diacyl form of the lipid predominates, but in others the alkylacyland alkenylacyl forms are more abundant. Phosphatidylglycerol is synthesised only in mitochondria of non-photosynthetic eukaryotes, and it is used as the precursor for cardiolipin, which is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is required for proper functioning of the enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation.