Characterization of gangliosides from equine kidney and spleen

Gangliosides were isolated from equine kidney and spleen, and their carbohydrate and lipid moieties were characterized. Among the long-chain bases, considerable proportions of trihydroxy bases (42.3 to 61.2% of the total bases), in which phytosphingosine was predominant were found in all the ganglioside classes. The other major base was sphingosine. Among the constituent fatty acids, long-chain acids (with a carbon number of more than 20), comprised approximately half the total acids, with some alpha-hydroxy and mono-unsaturated acids. By means of sequential hydrolysis with glycosidases coupled with methylation analysis, the following kidney and spleen gangliosides were characterized: hematoside containing both N-acetyl and N-glycolylneuraminic acids; ganglioside GM2 having both types off sialic acid; ganglioside GM1 having mainly N-glycolylneuraminic acid (83 to 86%); ganglioside GD1a having mainly N-glycolylneuraminic acid (71 to 95%). Ganglioside GD3 containing almost exclusively N-glycolylneuraminic acid (93%) was found in the kidney, and ganglioside GD1b having both types of sialic acid in the spleen.