title: Sphingolipids of influenza viruses.
abstract: Total lipid of four egg grown influenza viruses (A2-Asia, A2-England, A2-Taiwan and fowl plague virus) were extracted with chloroform-methanol. After mild alkali treatment of the extracts, glycosphingolipids and sphingomyelin were separated by a silicic acid column, and finally purified by thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid, sphingosine and carbohydrate components of individual lipid classes were then analysed by gas-liquid chromatography. Nearly identical results were obtained with all viruses investigated. Approximately 20% of the total lipid was monohexosylceramide, distributed equally between glucosyl- and galactosyl- analogues. Lactosylceramide and oligohexosylceramides were found in much smaller concentrations (approx. 2%). About 15% of the total lipid was attributed to sphingomyelin. A large proportion of fatty acids (around 25% in sphingomyelin and 60% in glycolipids) belonged to the long chain (C19-C26) normal- and 2-hydroxy series. C18-sphingosine was found to be the only base present in all lipid classes investigated.
mesh_terms: D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006601:Hexoses / Q000032:analysis; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000032:analysis*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000032:analysis*; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000032:analysis*; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D006601:Hexoses; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D013107:Sphingolipids; D013109:Sphingomyelins