INVESTIGATIONS OF LIPID COMPONENTS OF NEURON-ENRICHED MEMBRANES OF THE JELLYFISH CYANEA-CAPILLATA

The lipid components of nerve-rich tissues from the jellyfish Cyanea c apillata were purified by multiple differential extractions of a singl e tissue pellet and detected with various chemical spray reagents foll owing separation by thin-layer chromatography. The results indicate th at gangliosides are completely absent from Cyanea capillata neurones, that the major sterol is not cholesterol. and that the five major phos phorus-containing lipids do not co-migrate with conventional phospholi pid standards. The atypical lipid environment of Cyanea capillata neur ones may account for some of their unusual physiological and pharmacol ogical properties.