A simple, nonenzymatic method for desialylating polysialylated ganglio-N-tetraose series gangliosides to produce GM1.

Dowex-50W-H+ was used to catalyze the highly selective desialylation of polysialylated ganglio-N-tetraose series gangliosides to yield primarily GM1. High performance thin-layer chromatographic analysis of recovered lipid indicated that 60-70% of the recovered ganglioside was GM1. Identification of the major product as GM1 was confirmed by proton NMR spectra and lack of sialic acid release by Vibrio cholerae sialidase.