Characterization of glucosylceramide from plasma membranes of plant root cells

Plasma membranes of oat root cells were isolated from intracellular membranes by subfractionation of the microsomal fraction using an aqueous polymer two-phase system. The plasma membranes originated from oat plants which were acclimated to dehydration by exposure to a repeated water-deficit stress program. Glucosylceramides was a major component of the plasma membrane lipids and amounted to 9% of the lipid of control plants and 5% of the lipid of acclimated plants. Structural analysis using FAB-MS showed only one type of glucosylceramides. The constituent monosaccharide was exclusively glucose and the sphingosine base was 4,8-sphingadienine. The fatty acid composition was determined to 24:1-OH, with only trace levels of non-hydroxy acids. The decrease in the level of glucosylceramides during acclimation to dehydration was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in phospholipids and increase in free sterols.