Fatty acids of Trypanosoma cruzi.

1. The fatty acid pattern of total lipids from T. cruzi is different from one of its growth medium. 2. The distribution of major fatty acids in phospholipid fraction was linoleic (50.4%), oleic (25.6%), stearic (10.1%) and palmitic (6.3%) and in neutral lipid fraction oleic and linolelc (about 29% each), palmitic (18.3%) and stearic (9.8%). 3. In each of the individual phospholipids a particular fatty acid pattern was observed. 4. For phosphatidylcholine: linoleic (55.7%), oleic (16.6%), stearic and palmitic (about 8% each) and polyunsaturated acids (4%). 5. For phosphatidylethanolamine: linoleic (41.5%), oleic (27.6%), stearic (9.9%) and an unidentified fatty acid (9.2%). 6. For phosphatidylinositol: stearic and linoleic (about 30% each) and oleic (22.1%).