Studies on the Glycosphingolipids of the Starfish, Asterina pectinifera: I. The Isolation and Characterization of Ceramide Mono- and Di-Hexosides

Abstract

Ceramide mono- and di-hexosides were isolated from the starfish, Asterina pectinifera. These glycolipids had both a novel ceramide which contained almost entirely phytosphingosines (long-chain bases) and a high content of 2-hydroxy fatty acids. The long-chain base composition of the glycolipids shows an unusual pattern with both branched bases (iso-C₁₆iso-C₁₇iso-C₁₈, anteiso-C₁₇, and anteiso-C₁₈ and normal ones (C₁₆ C₁₇ and C₁₈). Of these, iso-C₁₆- and anteiso-C₁₈-phytosphingosines had been undetected up to now.

The glycolipids were identified as glucosyl and lactosyl ceramides. Lactosyl ceramide had not been previously reported in starfish, although the wide occurrence of this glycolipid has been demonstrated in other organisms.