Sulfatides from bovine brain

Sulfatide is a 3-O-sulfogalactosylceramide consisting primarily of galacto cerebroside sulfate. It is localized in myelin sheath and comprises approximately 4% of total myelin lipid in brain.

Sulfatideis a glycospingolipid and plays an essential role in host-pathogen recognition,β-cell function, infection, haemostasis/thrombosis, protein trafficking, cellgrowth, cell adhesion, neuronal plasticity, cell morphogenesis, and signaltransduction. It is found on the surface of the blood cells such asplatelets, leukocytes, and erythrocytes. Sulfatides are also found in the serumas glycosphingolipids in lipoproteins. It is made up of glycan part, a hydrophobic part, 3-O-sulfated galactose, and ceramide, which in turn is composed of a sphingosine base and a fatty acid. It is an important component forthe maintenance of the myelin sheath andproper formation of the axo-glial junctions. Variations in the production ofsulfatides are associated with various human diseases like cancer andimmunological disorders. Alterations in the sulfatide metabolism lead to synapticdysfunction, neurological decline, inflammation, and myelin deterioration.

Sulfatides has been used in:

• enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in human plasma samples
• thin layer chromatography in myelin membranes
• in sulfatide binding assay of properdin

Sulfatides play a key role in physiological processes of nervous system, immune system and in insulin secretion. Anomalies in sulfatides catabolism in lysosome is implicated in late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy. High levels of sulfatides is also observed in ovarian cancer. Sulfatides contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system.