Purification and partial characterization of sphingomyelin from human plasma*

Abstract

Isolation of pure sphingomyelin from human plasma on a preparative scale is described. Analyses of fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography on two polar polyester columns indicate the presence of all even- and odd-carbon, saturated fatty acids from C14 to C25 and most of the corresponding monoenoic acids as well. Palmitic acid is the predominant component; seven of the acids constitute over 90% of the total fraction. A previously unassigned trace constituent of the fatty acid fraction has been tentatively identified as a C24 dienoic acid on the basis of relative retention times, microhydrogenation, and reaction with mercuric acetate.