Determination of neuraminic acid in crude brain lipids

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Abstract
Synthetic N-acetylneuraminic acid and partially purified ox brain strandin have been subjected to Bial''s orcinol reaction and the characteristics of the absorption spectra have been studied. Crude ox brain lipids under similar conditions showed anomalous spectra, which were largely traced to the presence of cerebroside. Partitioning of ox brain lipids between aqueous methanolic and chloroform-rich phases caused the strandin to pass completely into the upper aqueous methanolic phase. The neuraminic acid content of this phase was determined by measuring the "difference" extinction at 570 m[mu] of the orcinol-reaction products (untreated minus acid-treated). Neuraminic acid has been determined in the lipids of several rat tissues. It was found only in the brain.