Positional distribution of fatty acids in glycerophosphatides of bovine gray matter.

Glycerophosphatides were isolated from ox brain gray matter by column chromatography. The fatty acid compositions of ethanolamine glycerophosphatides (EGP), serine glycerophosphatides (SGP), and choline glycerophosphatides (CGP) were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The positional distribution of fatty acids in these glycerophosphatides were determined by phospholipase A hydrolysis (Habu habu venom). C(20) and C(22) polyunsaturated acids were confined almost exclusively to the 2-position of these lipids, where they comprised the majority of 2-substituents in EGP and SGP (oleic acid predominated in this position in CGP). In the 1-position, palmitoyl was the major substituent in CGP, stearoyl in SGP, and stearoyl or the corresponding alk-1-enyl group in EGP.