The Phospholipase A1 Activity of Glycerol Ester Hydrolase (Geh) Is Responsible for Extracellular 2-12()-Methyltetradecanoyl-Lysophosphatidylglycerol Production in Staphylococcus aureus.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is the major membrane phospholipid of Staphylococcus aureus and predominately consists of molecular species with ≥16-carbon acyl chains in the 1-position and 12()-methyltetradecaonate (a15) esterified at the 2-position. The analysis of the growth media for PG-derived products shows S. aureus releases essentially pure 2-12()-methyltetradecanoyl--glycero-3-phospho-1'--glycerol (a15:0-LPG) derived from the hydrolysis of the 1-position of PG into the environment.