A group of glycosphingolipids found in an invertebrate: Their structures and biological significance

作者：Satake Mei^*; Miyamoto Eishichi

来源：Proceedings of the Japan Academy Series B-Physical and Biological Sciences, 2012, 88(9): 509-517.

DOI：10.2183/pjab.88.509

• glycosphingolipids
• Aplysia kurodai
• chemical structures
• tissue distribution
• neurobiological functions

A novel group of glycosphingolipids was identified in the nervous tissue and skin of the mollusc, Aplysia kurodai, which lacks gangliosides. More than 30 glycolipids were detected on HPTLC plates and the structures of 9 major glycolipids were determined. They were pentaosylglycosphingolipids and their common core structure was GalNAc alpha 1 -%26gt; 3Gal beta 1 -%26gt; 4Glc beta 1 -%26gt; 1ceramide, except for one glycolipid in which Gal beta of the core structure was replaced by Gal alpha. 3-O-MeGal beta or 4-O-MeGlcNAc alpha or 3,4-O-carboxyethylideneGal beta was at their non-reducing ends. Gal alpha or Fuc alpha binds to Gal of the core structure at 2C as a side chain sugar. One to three 2-aminoethylphosphonic acids and/or phosphoethanolamine link to the glycolipids. Immunohistochemically, glycolipids having carboxyethylideneGal at their non-reducing ends were localized exclusively in nerve bundles. Glycolipids activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the rat brain and may directly activate cAMP-dependent protein kinase in a manner similar, but not identical, to that of cAMP. The biological functions of glycolipids may share neurobiological functions proposed for gangliosides in vertebrates.

• 出版日期2012-11