Facile method for the preparation of lyso-GM1 and lyso-GM2

This paper reports a facile method for the preparation of lyso-GM1 [Gal beta1-->3GalNAc beta1--> 4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Galbeta1-->4Glc beta1-->1'-sphingosine] and lyso-GM2 [GalNAc beta1-->4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Gal beta1-->4Glc beta1-->sphingosine], respectively, from GM1 [Galbeta1-->3GalNAc beta1-->4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Galbeta1-->4Glc beta1-->1'-Cer] and GM2[GalNAc beta1-->4(Neu5Ac alpha2-->3)Galbeta1-->4Glc beta1-->1'-Cer], using sphingolipid ceramide deacylase and high performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC). The enzymatically released lyso-GM1 and/or lyso-GM2 was effectively separated from its parent ganglioside by HPAEC using a Mono Q HR 5/5 column with an Amersham Biosciences fast protein liquid chromatography system. The yield was almost quantitative and the separation completed in approximately 3 h. This method is more convenient and effective than the conventional method using alkaline hydrolysis and silicic acid chromatography to generate and purify lyso-gangliosides.