The fucoganglioside of human kidney.

Gangliosides of human kidney have been isolated and partially characterized [ 11. One of these gangliosides contained fucose, galactose, glucose, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid in the molar ratio of 1:2: 1: 1: 1 respectively. It was homogeneous on thin-layer chromatography and it was therefore proposed that this ganglioside represents a new type of glycolipid structure with neuraminic acid and fucose residues in the same carbohydrate chain [ 11. In the present work the carbohydrate moiety of this ganglioside was studied by methylation, partial acid hydrolysis and neuraminidase treatment. Evidence is presented that this ganglioside is a sialized derivative of the so-called X antigen isolated by Yang and Hakomori [2] . .