A new solvent system for the separation of neutral glycosphingolipids.

A solvent system and a column for high performance liquid chromatography for the separation of glycosphingolipids without derivatization is described. A column pakced with porous silica gel (latrobeads) and eluted with a mixture of isopropanol-hexane-water with increasing water content and decreasing hexane content was used. Glycosphingolipids with mono- to dodeca- or tetrakaidecasaccharides were separated within 60 min and the separation pattern was highly reproducible. The method was applied for preparative separation of highly complex glycolipids with blood group activity.