Abstract
Cerebroside was isolated from Maitake mushroom (Glifola frondosa) as the major glycolipid, and its representative molecular species of ceramide residues was characterized as N-hydroxypalmitoyl-9-methyl-trans-4, trans-8-sphigadienine, which was subsequently shown distributed not only in the fruiting bodies of six other basidiomycetes but mycelium of G. frondosa as well. trans-4-sphingenine and trans-4, trans-8-sphingadienine as well as trihydroxy straight-chain sphingoid bases with chain length from 18 to 20 carbons were also confirmed present in the mushroom cerebroside, although in minor amounts.
