Sphingolipids of a cestode Metroliasthes coturnix

Sphingolipids of Metroliasthes coturnix were studied. The cestode contained no detectable amounts of sphingomyelin. The major glycosphingolipids found were monogalactosylceramide, galactosyl-α-1-4-galactosylceramide, galactosyl-β-1-6-galactosyl-β-1-6-galactosylceramide and galactosyl-β-1-6-galactosyl-β-1-6-galactosyl-β-1-6-galactosylceramide. Their ceramides were mostly composed of C18-20 sphinganine or 4-d-hydroxysphinganine, which is N-acylated by extraordinarily long normal and 2-hydroxy acids such as C26 acid (range C16 to C30) except tetragalactosylceramide. The structure of glycosphingolipids was confirmed after their chromatographic separation into each molecular species using a novel analytical device, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry linked with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.