Structures of fucose-containing ceramide pentasaccharides from the plasma of blood group O Le(ab) nonsecretors

Abstract
A minor, Lec blood‐group inactive ceramide pentasaccharide double band fraction has been isolated from the plasma of blood group O Le(ab) nonsecretors. The two purified glycolipids were analysed by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and combined gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The following structures could be established: GlcNAc(β1 → 3)Gal(β1 → 4)Glc(β1 → 1)Cer (I); Gal(β1 → 4) [Fuc(α1 → 3)]GlcNAc(β1 → 3)Gal(β1 → 4)Glc(β1 → 1)Cer (II). It must be concluded that at least part of the secretor gene‐independent plasmatic H type 2 blood‐group activity can be attributed to glyco‐sphingolipid I, whereas substance II, originally detected in cancerous tissue, also occurs in the plasma of healthy individuals.