Summary

1. Deuterium Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of a series of N-palmitoylgalactosylceramides (cerebrosides) specifically labelled with deuterium at one of positions 2', 6', 10 ' and 16 ' of the acyl chain, or in the C-6 hydroxymethyl group of the galactose residue, have been obtained using a spin-echo technique at 34.1 MHz with a homebuilt superconducting magnet spectrometer. 2. The effects of temperature and cholesterol on the deuterium spectra have been investigated. The results indicate, when compared at the same reduced temperature, that the hydrocarbon chain organization in the liquid crystalline phase of palmitoylgalactosylceramide is ssentially identical to that seen in similar chain length glycerophospholipids. In particular, two sets of quadrupole splittings are seen for a 2'-labelled N-palmitoylgalactosylceramide, ndicating non-equivalent deuterons as noted previously for phospholipids. 3. Two sets of quadrupole splittings are observed for the headgroup C-6-1abelled N-palmitoylgalactosylceramide. It is proposed that these signals arise from the enantiomeric R and S lipids, and that motion of the hydroxy-methyl group is slow (greater than 10-s s). These results suggest the presence of a hydrogen bond network in the polar headgroup region