Abstract
Lipids were found to constitute 3·9% and 4·7% of the dry weight of yeast and mycelial forms of Candida albicans, respectively. Phospholipids were localized mainly in the microsomal fraction of both growth forms and phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin were the major phospholipids. Myristic acid and palmitic acid were the predominant fatty acids in the yeast form while the mycelial form contained palmitic, palmitoleic and oleic acid as major fatty acids. Yeast forms showed significantly higher specific activities of intracellular phospholipase A and lysophospholipase when compared with mycelial forms. No significant difference in the specific activity of extracellular phospholipase A was seen in either morphogenic form while the activity of extracellular lysophospholipase was higher in the yeast form. These results are discussed in the context of the virulence of this fungus.