Studies on the glycosphingolipids of the starfish, Asterina pectinifera. I. The isolation and characterization of ceramide mono- and di-hexosides.

Ceramide mono- and di-hexosides were isolated from the starfish, Asterina pectinifera. These glycolipids had both a novel ceramide which contained almost entirely phytosphingosines (long-chain bases) and a high content of 2-hydroxy fatty acids. The long-chain base composition of the glycolipids shows an unusual pattern with both branched bases (iso-C16, iso-C17, iso-C18, anteiso-C17, and anteiso-C18) and normal ones (C16, C17, and C18). Of these, iso-C16- and anteiso-C18-phytosphingosines had been undetected up to now. The glycolipids were identified as glucosyl and lactosyl ceramides. Lactosyl ceramide had not been previously reported in starfish, although the wide occurrence of this glycolipid has been demonstrated in other organisms.