Abstract
Examination was made of ceramide monohexosides and sphingophosphonolipids (SPnL) from the viscera of Euhadra hickonis. E. Hickonis belongs to Pulmonata in animal classification, and is a popular land snail in evolutional and biological respects.
Conjugated lipids were extracted with chloroform-methanol (2 : 1, by vol) following that of simple lipids with acetone. SPnL, galactosylceramide (Gal-Cer), and glucosylceramide (Glc-Cer) as main sphingolipids were separated and purified by silicic acid column and borate column chromatography. The purified sphingolipids were identified by TLC, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB/MS), analysis of degradation products and quantitative analysis of sugar, long chain base, phosphorus and fatty acid ester.
The ceramide monohexosides consisted of 53.8% of Gal-Cer and 46.2% of Glc-Cer. The ratio of ceramide aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP) to ceramide N-methylaminoethylphosphonate (CMAEP) was about 54 : 46 in the FAB/MS positive ion mode and 73 : 27 in the FAB/MS negative ion mode. This ratio essentially the same as that for SPnL of sea abalone muscle.
The ratio of non-hydroxy fatty acid to α-hydroxy fatty acid was about 1 : 1 in SPnL, 1 : 9 in Gal-Cer, and 1 : 1 in Glc-Cer.
Main component of long chain bases of these sphingolipids was anteiso branched C19-sphingenine. The most remarkable feature of these bases in E. hickonis was the large amount of oddnumbered branched sphingenine and Pulmonata would thus appear closely related to Opisthobranchia.
