Abstract
Gangliosides were isolated from human cataracts by solvent extraction, silicic acid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. A total of 11 resorcinol-positive bands were revealed by thin-layer chromatography. Bands 1, 5 and 7 were partially identified as hematoside, G M1 ganglioside and disialoganglioside by gas-liquid chromatography as the O-trimethylsilylated methylglycosides. In addition to galactose and glucose, fucose was found to be present in seven ganglioside fractions (bands 3, 4, 6 and 8–11). All these fucolipids contained N-acetylglucosamine in addition to sialic acid. Fucogangliosides G-3, G-4 and G-6 contained a 2:1 molar ratio of galactose to glucose, while G-8 had a solgalactose glucose molar ratio of 1:1. Long-chain fatty acids constituted 60–77% of the total normal fatty acids in N-acetylgalactosamine-containing gangliosides, whereas the fucogangliosides contained primarily palmitate, although significant amounts of long-chain acids were also detected. The major long-chain base of the fucoganglioside was sphinganine (dihydrosphinogosine). The role of fucose-containing gangliosides in maintaining adhesions between lens membranes in cataracts is discussed with reference to glycosphingolipids in other tissues.
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Schedule a callMore From: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Lipids and Lipid Metabolism
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