Ganglioside composition of chromaffin granule membrane in bovine adrenal medulla

The ganglioside composition of chromaffin granule membranes of bovine adrenal medulla was investigated. Two major gangliosides, which accounted for over 95% of total gangliosides, were characterized as GM3 (NeuAc) and GM3 (NeuGc) by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Chromaffin granule membranes contained a relatively higher concentration of gangliosides than the membranes of other subcellular organelles; three times higher than microsomal membranes and seven times higher than mitochondrial membranes. This high concentration of ganglioside in chromaffin granule membranes could contribute to the high concentration of gangliosides in the adrenal medulla as compared to other extraneural tissues.