GANGLIOSIDES OF HUMAN KIDNEY

Abstract

Isolated gangliosides (5) were characterized. The 2 main fractions were extraneural gangliosides having lactose as their neutral carbohydrate moiety. Their structures were identified as: AcNeu(.alpha.2-3)Gal(.beta.1-4)Glc(.beta.1-1)Cer and AcNeu(.alpha.2-8)AcNeu(.alpha.2-3)Gal(.beta.1-4)Glc(.beta.1-1)Cer. The 2 main hexosamine-containing gangliosides are structurally related to human blood group substances of glycosphingolipid nature. The following structures were postulated: AcNeu(.alpha.2-3)Gal(.beta.1-4)GlcNAc(.beta.1-3)Gal(.beta.1-4)Glc(.beta.1-1)Cer and AcNeu(.alpha.2-3)Gal(.beta.1-4)[Fuc(.alpha.1-3)]GlcNAc(.beta.1-3)Gal(.beta.1-4)Glc(.beta.1-1)Cer. The 3rd hexosamine-containing ganglioside belongs to a different series of glycolipids and was shown to have the structure of a major ganglioside of human brain: AcNeu(.alpha.2-3)Gal(.beta.1-3)GalNAc(.beta.1-4)[AcNeu(.alpha.2-3)]Gal(.beta.1-4)Glc(.beta.1-1)Cer. The fatty acid structure of different gangliosides resembled that of neutral glycolipids of human kidney with the nonhydroxy acids C16:0, C22:0 and C24:0 as major components.