Separation of gangliosides on a new type of anion-exchange resin

A new anion exchange resin, Spherosil-DEAE-Dextran, consisting of porous glass beads covered with cross-linked DEAE-Dextran, was used in the separation of gangliosides. The gangliosides were eluted from the resin with a discontinuous gradient of potassium acetate in methanol, separating the gangliosides quantitatively into mono-, di, tri-, tetra- and pentasialoganglioside fractions. The new resin was found to have higher binding capacity, to show less unspecific adsorption and to give a better separation of the higher oligosialogangliosides than did DEA-Spherosil, QAE-Sephadex, DEAE-Sephadex and DEAE-Sepharose. Anion exchange chromatography improved discrimination between closely allied gangliosides as well as quantification and identification of individual gangliosides, especially the minor ones. The new procedure was used in the separation of the gangliosides in human infant forebrain and cerebellum.