Separation of brain phosphatidylserines according to degree of unsaturation by thin-layer chromatography

Phosphatidylserines (PS) have been prepared from bovine brain using DEAE column chromatography. A method involving AgNO₃-impragnated silica gel H thin-layer chromatography is presented for separating intact PS according to the degree of unsaturation of their fatty acids. A detailed analysis was made of the fatty acid composition of the various fractions using gas chromatography. Some data are presented on the composition of molecular species of PS in bovine brain. The two main molecular species found in cerebral cortex are tentatively assigned the structures of 1-octadecanoyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylserine and 1-octadecanoyl-2-octadecenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylserine.