Rapid ion-exchange separation of human brain gangliosides.

An extract of human brain gangliosides was separated on a Spheron 1000-DEAE spherous fine-grain macroporous glycolmethacrylate anion-exchanger. Linear gradient elution using ammonium acetate in methanol resulted in the complete separation of mono, di-, tri-, tetra- and pentasialogangliosides in 35 min at the load of 2.4 mg/ml of ion-exchanger. The ganglioside fractions thus obtained were characterized by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. In conclusion, the scope of rapid separation of gangliosides is discussed, based on a combination of column chromatographic methods.