Demonstration of 9-O-Acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic Acid in Brain Gangliosides from Various Vertebrates Including Man

Abstract
Ganglioside fractions were isolated from brains of man, cow, horse, pig, sheep, cat, rabbit, rat, chicken and codfish. The acylneuraminic acid residues, liberated from these gangliosides by treatment with dilute auqeous acid or neuraminidase, were analyzed by TLC and combined GLC/mass spectrometry. Small amounts (up to 20%) of 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid, and in bovine and porcine brain gangliosides also traces of N-glycolylneuraminic acid, were found in addition to N-acetylneuraminic acid.