Visualization method for sulfolipids and its application to the determination of nanomole quantities of lipid sulfur

A simple and sensitive visualization method for sulfolipids on a thin-layer chromatogram is described. By spraying with an acidic solution of azure A, a complex was formed between an anionic sulfolipid and a blue cationic compound. After the unbound dye was washed out by brief soaking in methanol, sulfolipids were visualized as clear dark-blue bands on a light-blue background. As little as 0.5 nmol could be detected. Sulfolipid-dye complex was estimated by densitometry or colorimetric measurement after extraction with chloroform/methanol. For the quantitative determination of sulfolipids having long sugar chains, it is necessary to treat thin-layer chromatography plates with acetic anhydride before color development. Of the other tissue lipids not containing sulfuric acid ester that were tested none were stained significantly. A linearity of quantitative determination was observed over the range of 1-8 nmol.