Separation of Glycosyl Diglycerides from Phosphatides Using Silicic Acid Column Chromatography.

A procedure has been developed for the separation of the glycosyl diglycerides from the phosphatides of Gram-positive bacteria on columns of silicic acid. The method utilizes mixtures of acetone in chloroform for elution of the glycosyl diglycerides, followed by increasing amounts of methanol in chloroform for elution of the phosphatides. The course of the fractionation was followed by means of phosphorus and carbohydrate determinations and by paper chromatography. The completeness of the separation of the phosphatides from the sugar-containing lipids was shown also by chromatographing a total lipid extract containing P=-labeled phosphatides.