Vladimir P. Skipski

[47] Thin-layer chromatography of neutral glycosphingolipids

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the methods for separation by thin layer chromatography of glycosphingolipids that do not contain sialic acid and are called neutral glycosphingolipids. These glycosphingolipids include not only genuine neutral glycosphingolipids but also sulfatides, psychosines, and ceramides. The successful separation of neutral glycosphingolipids performed on lipid samples enriched with glycosphingolipids is dependent upon the quality of enriched samples. If enriched samples represent pure, or almost pure, fractions of neutral glycosphingolipids, their separations can be achieved without difficulty by using silica gel chromatoplates and a chloroform–methanol–water mixture as the developing solvent, usually used for separation of glycosphingolipids. The type of silica gel, the composition of enriched samples, and the nature of the research problem will determine the ratio of ingredients in the above-mentioned developing solvent.