Biochemistry of Shellfish Lipids: X. Isolation of a Sphingolipid Containing 2-Monomethylamino-ethylphosphonic Acid from Shellfish

1. A new sphingophosphonolipid was prepared from a mollusc, Monodonta labio, and characterized as ceramide 2-monomethylaminocthylphosphonate (CMMAEP).

2. The lipid was completely hydrolyzed by Cl. perfringens phospholipase C [EG 3.1.4.3] in the presence of diethyl ether. Among the products in the hydrolyzate, 2-monomethylaminoethylphosphonic acid and ceramide were isolated and identified.

3. A method is presented for isolating CMMAEP from alkali-stable lipid mixtures of the mollusc.