The Occurrence of GM4 and GM2 in Erythrocytes from Inbred Strains of Mice1

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Abstract
Glycolipids of erythrocytes from inbred mice, C3H/He and CDF 1 , were analyzed. Galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide, GM 4 and GM 2 , were separated and their structures were established. Sialic acid of GM 4 was exclusively N -acetylneuraminic acid, while GM 2 contained only N -glycolylneuraminic acid. The fatty acid composition of GM 4 was very similar to that of galactosylceramide, and a similarity was also found between that of GM 2 and glucosylceramide. These results suggest that erythroid cells of mice have two separate biosynthetic pathways of gangliosides. One is the pathway to GM 4 (NeuAc) from galactosylceramide, and the other is that for synthesizing GM 2 (NeuGc) from glucosylceramide.