Structure of the major gangliosides from bovine thyroid.

After preparative isolation, the carbohydrate, long chain base, and fatty acid composition of the major gangliosides from bovine thyroid have been analyzed. The structures were elucidated by determining the molar ratio of the building blocks, permethylation analysis, and enzymatic degradation studies. The following structures are identified: N-Acetylneuraminyl(2,3)-galactosyl(1,4)glucosyl(1,1)ceramidie; N-glycolyneuraminyl(2,3)galactosyl(1,4)glucosyl(1,1)ceramide; galactosyl(1,3)N-acetylgalactosaminyl[(3,2)N-acetylneuraminyl](1,4)galactosyl(1,4)glucosyl(1,1)ceramide; fucosyl(1,2)galactosyl(1,3)N-acetylgalactosaminyl[(3,2)N-acetylneuraminyl](1,4)galactosyl(1,4)glucosyl(1,1)-ceramide. The structures were confirmed by direct inlet mass spectrometry of the permethylated gangliosides and the corresponding asialo derivatives. Structures are proposed for common ions in the different mass spectra.