Structural elucidation of a novel phosphonoglycosphingolipid in eggs of the sea hare Aplysia juliana.
A novel phosphonoglycosphingolipid (AJPnGL) was isolated from eggs of the sea hare Aplysia juliana. The structure was determined to be Gal alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4(2-aminoethylphosphonyl-->6)Glc beta 1-->1Cer by FAB/MS, 1H-NMR, hydrogen fluoride degradation, methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis and GC analysis of the component sugars, fatty acids and long-chain bases. The ceramide moiety of this lipid consisted of branched nonadeca-4-sphingenine and octadeca-4-sphingenine as main long-chain bases and palmitic acid and stearic acid as major fatty acids. Since the sugar chain (Gal alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->) and the ceramide moiety of AJPnGL were identical with those of the main neutral glycosphingolipid of eggs of A. juliana, the biosynthesis of AJPnGL may occur by the addition of 2-aminoethylphosphonate to the main neutral glycosphingolipid, Gal alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->1Cer.