GANGLIOSIDES OF HUMAN-ERYTHROCYTES - NOVEL GANGLIOSIDE WITH A UNIQUE N-ACETYLNEURAMINOSYL-(2-]3)-N-ACETYLGALACTOSAMINE STRUCTURE

A novel ganglioside having both N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylglucosamine was isolated from human erythrocyte membranes. Its structure was characterized by successive exoglycosidase treatment, methylation analysis, and direct-probe mass spectrometry of permethylated intact and desialylated glycolipid. The core structure of the ganglioside was found to be N-acetylgalactosaminyl paragloboside with sialosyl substitution by 2→3 linkage at the terminal GalNAc residue: [formula omitted] The ganglioside was characterized by the presence of a ceramide with myristic acid as the major component. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.