A novel fucosylated glycosphingolipid from the millipede, Parafontaria laminata armigera.

A novel fucosylated glycosphingolipid (GL-3a) was isolated and purified from whole tissues of the millipede, Parafontaria laminata armigera. Its chemical structure was characterized as Man beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)Glc beta 1-ceramide (I3 alpha Fuc,MlOse2Cer) by gas-liquid chromatography, permethylation study, partial acid hydrolysis, exoglycosidase degradation, TLC/enzyme-immunostaining, negative fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This compound was unique in containing a fucose branch linked to the glucose residue of the disaccharide, mannosylglucose. The ceramide moiety was mainly composed of d17:1 (64.3%) and d18:1 (20.0%) sphingoids, and 22:0 (41.8%), 23:0 (16.4%) and 24:0 (15.8%) fatty acids.