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Lactational changes in the fatty acid composition of human milk gangliosides

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Lipids

Abstract

The objectives of this work were to study the FA composition of milk gangliosides, as well as to gain further insight into the characterization of human milk gangliosides. The potential capacity of human milk gangliosides to adhere to human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC-strains) was also studied. Human milk gangliosides were isolated and identified by high-performance TLC or immunoassay. The latter also was used to assay bacterial adhesion. The FA composition of gangliosides was studied by GC. The presence of O-acetyl GD3 (Neu5,9Ac2α2–8 NeuAcα2–3Galβ1–4GlcCer) and trace amounts of GM1 [Galβ1–3GalNAcβ1,−3(NeuAcα2–3)Galβ1–4GlcCer] in human milk was confirmed. Medium-chain FA were almost absent in colostrum, whereas in the subsequent stages they rose to 20%. The levels of long-chain FA decreased after colostrum. With respect to the degree of saturation, gangliosides from colostrum were richer in monounsaturated FA than gangliosides synthesized during the rest of the lactation period, opposite to the pattern for PUFA. A human-ETEC colonization factor antigen II-expressing strain showed binding capacity to human milk GM3 (NeuAcα2–3Galβ1–4GlcCer). New data on human milk gangliosides have been gathered. A thorough knowledge of their composition is needed since they may have important biological implications in regard to newborns' defense against infection.

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Abbreviations

C:

chloroform

CFA/II:

colonization factor antigen II

ETEC:

enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

HPTLC:

high-performance TLC

LCFA:

long-chain FA

M:

methanol

mAb:

monoclonal antibody

MCFA:

medium-chain FA

MUFA:

monounsaturated FA

SFA:

saturated FA

VLCFA:

very long chain FA

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Edificio Departamental (Lab 103) Campus M. Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    Samuel Martín-Sosa, María-Jesús Martín, María-Dolores Castro, José A. Cabezas & Pablo Hueso

Authors
  1. Samuel Martín-Sosa
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  2. María-Jesús Martín
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  3. María-Dolores Castro
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  4. José A. Cabezas
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  5. Pablo Hueso
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pablo Hueso.

Additional information

The ganglioside nomenclature of Svennerholm (34) is followed.

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Martín-Sosa, S., Martín, MJ., Castro, MD. et al. Lactational changes in the fatty acid composition of human milk gangliosides. Lipids 39, 111–116 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1208-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1208-4

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