Analysis of dolichol in human tissues by high pressure liquid chromatography

Abstract
Dolichol from human liver, by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography, consisted of a series of homologues ranging from 17-23 isoprene units in length. The 2 major components, corresponding to 19 and 20 isoprene units, respectively, were isolated and identified by mass spectrometry. Dolichyl palmitate, synthesized from liver dolichol, showed an identical series of peaks with longer retention times. Attempts to chromatograph dolichyl phosphate under similar conditions were unsuccessful. Dolichol from uterine tissue and several other human tissues showed a shift toward shorter chain length, with a predominance of homologues containing 18 and 19 isoprene units. [Dolichyl phosphate is of interest as an intermediate of glycoprotein synthesis.].