Profiling of glucosylceramides by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Kazuki Nakajima, Ayako Kohyama-Koganeya, Yoshio Hirabayashi

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Cell membrane surface glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which are synthesized from glucosylceramide (GlcCer) by the enzymatic action of glucosylceramide synthase (GlcT-1), play fundamental roles in many cellular processes. Recent studies have shown that in adipose tissue, GlcCer is involved in the regulation of energy (fat and sugar) metabolism and that GlcCer acts as a glucose donor in cholesteryl glucoside biosynthesis. To investigate the physiological functions of GlcT-1 and GlcCer, a method to profile GlcCer species by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) has been recently established. The method is based on a combination analysis of retention times in hydrophilic liquid chromatography (HILIC) with specified head group survey, such as neutral-loss and/or precursor-ion scans. Here, the application of this method for profiling GlcCer species in Drosophila melanogaster fat bodies in which Drosophila GLCT-1 (dGlcT-1) expression was manipulated is described, and the implications of these studies in the context of energy metabolism and obesity are discussed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationGlycoscience
    Subtitle of host publicationBiology and Medicine
    PublisherSpringer Japan
    Pages565-571
    Number of pages7
    ISBN (Electronic)9784431548416
    ISBN (Print)9784431548409
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 01-01-2015

    All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

    • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Medicine

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