Examination of the esterified fatty acids from mouse erythrocyte and synaptosomal membrane phospholipids and their distribution between the various phospholipid types.

Esterified fatty acids from mouse erythrocyte and synaptosomal membranes were characterised by fused-silica capillary gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Structural information was obtained from the mass spectra of a number of derivatives including trimethylsilyl (TMS), methyl and picolinyl esters together with the TMS ethers of glycols derived from the unsaturated acids. In addition to previously characterised acids, small concentrations of several acids previously unreported from these membranes were identified. These included branched chain acids and several unsaturated acids.