MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF MIXTURES OF INTACT GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS

This chapter discusses mass spectrometry of mixtures of intact Glycosphingolipids. Glycosphingolipids usually occur in nature in complex mixtures and in small amounts. The number of sugars may range from one to about forty. These substances show distinct cell, tissue, strain, and species specificity in their structures and undergo successive changes during development and on tumor transformation. Of particular biomedical importance are the determinants within the major blood group systems (ABO, Lewis, I, P) and the glycolipids which may act as tumor-associated antigens and as receptors for microbes. Structural studies are, therefore, of major importance for the progress of transplantation and tumor biology and for the understanding of infectious diseases. Such studies require sensitive and rapid methods giving information with high structural specificity and with the capability to work with mixtures. Mass spectrometry is not the only method that matches these demands, but taken overall it is perhaps the most valuable tool in this respect. The electron ionization (EI)/MS distillation technique for the analysis of glycosphingolipid mixtures is the principal subject of this chapter. A few aspects of TLC/MS are also included. © 1990, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.