Journal of Lipid Research 1987-04-01

Glucosylsterol and acylglucosylsterol of snake epidermis: structure determination.

W Abraham, P W Wertz, R R Burken, D T Downing

Index: J. Lipid Res. 28(4) , 446-9, (1987)

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Abstract

The structures of two classes of glycolipids, acylglucosylsterol and glucosylsterol, from snake epidermis have been determined by chemical, spectroscopic, and gas-liquid chromatographic methods. The acylglucosylsterol consists of a glucose molecule attached to cholesterol and an ester-linked fatty acid on carbon 6 of the sugar. The major ester-linked fatty acids are palmitic, stearic, and oleic. The glucosylsterol consists of glucose attached to cholesterol. These unusual glycolipids may play a role in epidermal barrier function in snakes and it is concluded that these sterol glycosides may remain in the reptiles as a vestige of a more primitive barrier-forming mechanism.