Human fibroblasts in culture metabolize differently exogenous G(M3) ganglioside species containing C18 and C20 sphingosine.

Preparation of radioactive GM3 species containing isotopically labeled C18 sphingosine or C20 sphingosine is reported and their use for studying some aspects of the sphingolipid biosynthesis in cells is discussed. Human fibroblasts in culture that have only C18 sphingolipids and GM3 as the major gangliosides, were fed with the two radioactive GM3 species. The radioactive gangliosides were taken up by the cells and metabolized. The analyses of the radioactivity metabolic fate, in this model provides the following information. i--About 70-80% of the total catabolic sphingosine is re-cycled for biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids. ii--A small amount of the catabolic C20 sphingosine was re-cycled for biosynthesis of C20 sphingolipids, thus yielding complex lipids that are not naturally present in fibroblast cells. iii--A regulatory step in the biosynthesis of sphingolipid species differring long chain base content, C18 or C20 sphingosine, is in some way involved in the first steps of sphingolipid biosynthesis, and thus plays a decisive role in the availability of the long chain bases.