Studies on the Lipids of Japanese Littleneck, Tapes japonica (Deshayes). I.

Composition of Acetone-soluble Lipids

Abstract

The composition of the acetone-soluble lipids contained in Japanese Littleneck (Tapes japonica (Deshayes)) was studied from the view point of its seasonal variation.
The lipids were extracted with ethanol-ether or methanol-chloroform, and acetone soluble lipids were obtained by means of acetone precipitation and Folch-washing method. The acetone soluble lipids were analyzed with counter-current distribution method (95% methanol-petroleum ether, 100- transfer). Sterols and phospholipids were separated, but glyceride and fatty ester of sterols were not separated. Fraction of the mixtures of glycerides and sterols esters were determined for the unsaponifiables, to calculate the per cent of glyceride, sterol ester, free sterol and phospholipid. The separation of these fractions were identified with thin-layer chromatography on silicic acid. The seasonal variation of the composition of acetone -soluble lipids was not prominent.
The sterol was mainly 7- dehydrostigmasterol, but the presence of another sterol was indicated by the infrared absorption spectrum and by the thin-layer chromatography.