Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 13, 169-176, March 1972
Copyright © 1972 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Identification of a xylose-containing cerebroside in the salt gland of the herring gull

Karl-Anders Karlsson , Bo E. Samuelsson , and Göran O. Steen

Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Göteborg, Fack, 400 33 Göteborg 33, Sweden

A pentose-containing cerebroside has been identified in the salt gland of the herring gull, using mass spectrometry of acetyl and trimethylsilyl derivatives. A detailed interpretation of the spectra allowed a conclusion concerning the major long-chain base (the C₂₀ homolog of sphingosine) and the major fatty acids (C₂₂-C₂₅ 2-hydroxy fatty acids), using reference spectra of synthetic galactosylceramides. A six-membered glycose ring (aldopyranose) was demonstrated by mass spectrometry of the acetyl derivative of periodic acid-oxidized and sodium borodeuteride-reduced pentosylceramide. By gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of methanolysis products, the pentose was shown to be identical with xylose. The procedures were applied to 25-50 µg of glycolipid.

Supplementary key words sphingosine • 2-hydroxy fatty acids • pentosylceramide • periodic acid oxidation • sodium borodeuteride reduction • mass spectrometry

Submitted on June 21, 1971
Accepted on October 18, 1971

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