BIOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF BLOOD GROUP-ACTIVE GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS

Glycosphingolipids are quantitatively minor components of cell lipids. However, their segregation in the outer leaflet of the plasma membran e confers to these membranes specific structural and immunological pro perties. Current methods of extraction, purification and analysis of b lood cell glycolipids are presented. Valuable structural data may be o btained by a combination of chemical and enzymatic degradations with t hin-layer chromatography and immunological detection by monoclonal ant ibodies of known specificity. Examples of physical characterization by Mass Spectrometry and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy are also presented.