1-O-ALKYL-2,3-DIACYLGLYCEROLS IN THE SKIN SURFACE-LIPIDS OF THE HAIRLESS MOUSE

A neutral lipid class was isolated by thin-layer chromatography from t he skin surface lipids of the hairless mouse. The fraction migrated fa ster than triglycerides and had a migration rate similar to that of di acyl alkanediols (diester wax). Upon deacylation, however, the long-ch ain diols were identified as 1-alkylglycerol ethers based on their chr omatographic properties and on the mass spectra of their nicotinyliden e derivatives. Thus, the skin lipid fraction was identified as 1-O-alk yldiacylglycerol. The alkyl moieties were all saturated and even-numbe red and ranged in chainlength from C-16 to C-22 With 1-O-hexadecylglyc erol amounting to 34% of the total glycerol ether moieties. The fatty acids derived from this lipid fraction were mostly monoenoic with chai nlengths ranging from C-16 to C-24. The major acyl component was eicos enoic acid (20:1) representing 61% of the total fatty acids.