The plurality of long chain isoprenoid alcohols (polyprenols) from natural sources

Abstract

1. 1. It has been found that long chain isoprenoid alcohols (polyprenols) isolated from animals, plants and yeast can be separated into several isoprenologues by partition thin-layer chromatography. 2. 2. Two main types of polyprenols have been examined both having mainly ccs isoprene units. One group is fully isoprenoid and has a primary allylic hydroxyl group whereas the other group (the dolichols) has a primary hydroxyl on a terminal isopentane residue. 3. 3. The polyprenols were isolated from whole lipid or unsaponifiable lipid extracts by column chromatography (alumina) followed by preparative thin-layer chromatography. The polyprenols were chromatographed paraffin-impregnated kieselguhr thin layers using aqueous acetone solvents and anisaldehyde was used to stain the alcohols. 4. 4. The polyprenols from the leaves of Hevea brasiliensis were found to be 50, C 55, C 60 and C 65 with 3 internal isoprene units in the trans configuration and the remainder cis. A similar series of alcohols has been obtained from Aglaonema robelinii. 5. 5. Dolichols from pig liver, spleen, pancreas and kidney, human kidney and bakers' yeast were separated each into 5 or more components by partition thin-layer chromatography. The evidence suggested that the pig liver mixture was C 110, C 105, C 100, C 95, C 90 and C 85. The yeast mixture appeared to be C 90, C 85, C 80, C 75 and C 70. 6. 6. A plot of R M value against chain length gave within each group of polyprenols a straight-line relationship indicating a homologous series.