ANALYSIS OF NEUTRAL GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS OF THEILERIA-SERGENTI PIROPLASMS

Neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were isolated from a lipid extract o f Theileria sergenti piroplasms and analyzed by thin-layer chromatogra phy (TLC) and liposome immune lysis assay (LILA); two predominant GSLs , designated as N-1 and N-2 were separated on TLC. N-1 GSL showed the same mobility as lactosylceramide (LacCer) on the TLC plate. On the ot her hand, the mobility of N-2 GSL on the TLC plate was identical to th at of galactosylparagloboside. In order to characterize the molecular species of neutral GSLs from T. sergenti, N-1 and N-2 GSLs were tested by LILA with antibodies against LacCer and galactosylparagloboside, r espectively. N-1 GSL had reactivity to anti-LacCer antibody and N-2 re acted with the antibody to galactosylparagloboside. These results sugg est that N-1 and N-2 GSLs are LacCer (Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer) and galactosylparagloboside (Gal alpha 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer), respectively.