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Published on: April 27, 2021
Retinal sphingolipids and their very-long-chain fatty acid-containing species
Richard S Brush1, Julie-Thu A Tran, Kimberly R Henry
1Department of Ophthalmology, Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA.
Purpose:
Recent evidence suggests that ceramide metabolism plays an important role in retinal photoreceptor cell survival and apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to characterize sphingolipids in the retina with special emphasis on the very-long-chain-containing saturated (VLC-FA) and polyunsaturated (VLC-PUFA) fatty acid-containing species. The VLC-FAs and VLC-PUFAs are synthesized by the ELOVL4 protein, which is involved in human Stargardt's macular dystrophy type 3 (STGD3).
Methods:
Total lipids were extracted from retina and other tissues, and different sphingolipid classes were isolated and purified using various combinations of liquid- and solid-phase separation. Purified sphingolipids were analyzed by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), gas chromatography (GC), and GC-MS (GC-mass spectrometry).
Results:
Nonsialylated sphingolipids (NSLs) comprised approximately 3.5% of total retinal lipids of which 70% was sphingomyelin. Ceramide and glycosylceramides (GCs) constituted
Conclusions:
Retina has a total of 6% to 7% fatty acids that are N-linked to a sphingosine, which would be 11 to 13 mole % in comparison to phospholipids. The presence of VLC-FAs and VLC-PUFAs in retinal sphingolipids indicates that they may play role in ELOVL4-mediated Stargardt 3.
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