Fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry of glycosphingolipids extracted from thin-layer chromatography plates.

A method is described for analysis of glycosphingolipids extracted from thin-layer chromatography plates. Mixtures of glycolipids and gangliosides were separated by thin-layer chromatography and the individual bands were eluted, permethylated, and, after purification, analyzed by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry. The glycosphingolipids could be characterized from their fast atom bombardment mass spectra in terms of partial monosaccharide sequence, ceramide composition, and molecular weight. The sensitivity of the method allows characterization of 1-5 micrograms of glycosphingolipid.