Simultaneous separation of lysophospholipids from the total lipid fraction of crude biological samples using two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography.

A novel solvent system for two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography was shown to simultaneously separate lysophospholipid standards, including lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidic acid, lysosphingomyelin (sphingosylphosphorylcholine), and sphingosine-1-phosphate from diradylphospholipids, glycosphingolipids, and neutral lipids. Lysophospholipids contained in the total lipid fraction of activated platelets were also well separated by the same system. The present system is a useful tool for the metabolic and structural analysis of lysophospholipids in biological samples.