Hydrazinolysis of glycosphingolipids. A new method for preparation of N-deacylated (lyso) glycosphingolipids.

A useful method for N-deacylation of the ceramide moiety of glycosphingolipids has been developed. Galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, and galactosyllactosylceramide were effectively deacylated by heating with anhydrous hydrazine at 150 degrees C for 15-25 h. The lyso-derivative as the deacylated product of the ceramide moiety of each glycosphingolipid was isolated by preparative silica gel thin layer chromatography with a 70-85% yield from the starting glycolipids. Hydrazine sulfate was an effective catalyst for the deacylation of the ceramide moiety. No dissociation of oligosaccharide moieties of the glycolipids on hydrazinolysis was confirmed by gas chromatographic analysis and N-acylation of these lysoderivatives. The free amino groups of the lysoglycosphingolipids can be combined with various kinds of probes giving useful derivatives for biochemical and immunological studies on glycosphingolipids.