Bis-sulfoglycosphingolipid containing a unique 3-O-sulfated N-acetylgalactosamine from rat kidney

A novel sulfoglycosphingolipid containing two sulfate ester groups was isolated from the lipid extract of rat kidney. The isolation procedure involved extraction of lipids with chloroform/methanol, alkaline methanolysis, and column chromatographies with DEAE-Sephacel and silica beads. By infrared spectroscopy, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, periodate oxidation, solvolysis, chromium trioxide oxidation, and methylation analysis of the native and partially degraded compounds, the structure of this glycolipid is proposed to be (HSO3-3)GalNAc beta 1-4(HSO3-3)Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer. The presence of a unique 3-O-sulfated N-acetylgalactosamine structure was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The yield of this sulfoglycolipid was 11.2 nmol/g of tissue, which was about half of that of monosulfogangliotriaosylceramide from rat kidney.