Qualitative microanalysis and estimation of sphingolipid bases

Abstract

A method is described for the identification and determination of sphingolipid long-chain bases in various animal and plant lipids. Sphingosine and related bases, isolated as a mixture from acid hydrolysates of sphingolipids, are oxidized by sodium metaperiodate and the fatty aldehyde reaction products are isolated and analyzed by gas-liquid partition chromatography. The records thus obtained reflect the composition of the sphingolipid base fraction. A preliminary survey of various tissues is reported and the types of long-chain base found for each tissue are given. Evidence is presented for the presence of a new long-chain base associatcd with the sphingomyelin fraction of human plasma lipids.