The subcellular localization of the glycosphingolipids in the epithelial cells of rat small intestine.

Analysis of brush-border and basolateral membrane prepared from the epithelial cells of rat small intestine showed that the brush border contained less of some phospholipids and more glycosphingolipids per protein. The N-glycoloylneuraminosyllactosylceramide was enriched in the brush border, while cholesteryl sulphate and fucosyllactosylceramide were more prominent in the basolateral membrane. By periodate-NaB3H4 labelling of the intact small intestine, it was shown that N-glycoloylneuraminosyllactosylceramide is exposed at the luminal cell surface of the epithelial cell.