Separation of dolichol monophosphate mannose and dolichol monophosphate glucose by thin-layer chromatography

Dolichol monophosphate mannose and dolichol monophosphate glucose from mammalian or mold cells were separated by thin-layer chromatography. This separation was not due to a difference in the size of the lipid moieties. It was found that the lipid moieties of dolichol monophosphate mannose and dolichol monophosphate glucose are the same size when synthesized by the same cell. The thin-layer chromatographic separation appeared to be due, therefore, to the saccharide part of the molecules.