Isolation and Purification of Ceramide-aminoethylphosphonate in the AWABI, Haliotis discus

Ceramide-aminoethylphosphonate was isolated from the AWABI, Haliotis discus. The compound was purified with a combination of mild alkaline hydrolysis of the total lipids, QAE-Sephadex-A25 column chromatography and two dimensional thin layer chromatography. The infrared spectrum showed an absorption band at 1180cm^ due to c-p bond, and was essentially identical with that of the standard ceramide aminoethylphos-phonate. Upon hydrolysis of the substance by strong acid, neither change in the chromatographic behaviors of this substance nor liberation of inorganic phosphate was observed. The stability of the compound to acid hydrolysis suggested the presence of a c-p bond. On comparison with synthetic compound, the aqueous hydrolysis product behaved like 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid on thin layer chromatograms. The predominant fatty acids were palmitic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid