Characterization of major glycolipids in bovine erythrocyte membrane.

Several neutral glycolipids and gangliosides were isolated from bovine erythrocyte stroma. Their structures were determined by partial acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and CrO3 oxidation. Two major neutral glycolipids were characterized as lactosylceramide and galactosyl(alpha1--3)galactosyl(beta1--4)N-acetylglucosaminyl(beta1--3)galactosyl(beta1--4)glucosyl(beta1--1)ceramide. Two major gangliosides were N-glycolylneuraminosyl(2--3)galactosyl(beta1--4)glucosyl(beta1--1)ceramide and N-glycolylneuraminosyl(2--3)galactosyl(beta1--4)N-acetylglucosaminyl(beta1--3)galactosyl(beta1--4)glucosyl(beta1--1)ceramide. Minor glycolipids were glucosyl- and galactosylceramide, glucosamine-containing tri- and tetraglycosylceramide, glucosamine-containing disialosylhexaglycosylceramide, and gangliosides containing N-acetylneuraminic acid. The ceramide moiety of each glycolipid contained perdominantly d18:1 sphingosine, and normal fatty acids of C16:0, C22:0, C24:0, and C24:1.