Structural study on gangliosides from rat liver and erythrocytes

Gangliosides were isolated from rat liver and erythrocytes by chromatography on columns of DEAE-Sephadex and Iatrobeads, and finally purified by preparative TLC. The chemical structures of the purified components were studied by carbohydrate analysis, methylation analysis, sialidase treatment, fatty acid analysis and direct mass spectrometry. In rat liver, gangliosides GM3, GM1, GD3, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b were identified. Gangliosides in rat erythrocytes were characterized as GM1, fucosyl-GM1, and GD1a. Sialic acid was the N-acetyl type only and lignoceric acid was the main fatty acid in all components of rat liver and erythrocytes.