Quantitative separation of human brain glycolipids: isolation of an aminoglycolipid

Abstract

A chromatographic method with silicic acid and a stepwise elution scheme for the separation of human cerebral-grey-matter glycolipid and phospholipid fractions is described. Quantitative recoveries for 12 distinct fractions obtained from human cerebral material is reported. The reproducibility of this method is demonstrated and the similarities and variations between individual human brains are noted. An aminoglycolipid has been isolated from grey matter of human brain containing neuraminic acid, hexosamine and hexose in the approximate molar ratios 1:1:2, conforming to a single unit of the "double-unit" structure for one preparation of bovine brain ganglioside previously described (Bogoch, 1958).