A novel sulfated glycosphingolipid containing a sulfated galactosyl residue was isolated from bovine erythrocyte ghosts, and purified to homogeneity by column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and silica beads. Structural characterization included compositional analyses, permethylation studies, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, negative secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), solvolysis and immunostaining on thin-layer chromatogram. As a result, the structure of this glycolipid is proposed as HSO3-Gal beta 1-1 Cer. The ceramide portion contained d18:1, d18:0 and t18:0, and the predominant fatty acid consisted of palmitate and palmitate with a hydroxy group, as deduced by both compositional analysis and negative SIMS mass spectrometry. The component of this glycosphingolipid probably originates from erythrocytes and platelets as indicated by the results of flow cytometry analysis using Sulph I monoclonal antibody. The yield of galactosyl sulfatide was about 0.37 mg/kg wet bovine erythrocyte membranes, about three times that of human kidney. Our results strongly suggest that galactosylceramide sulfate on erythroid cells may play an important biological role in cell to cell interaction and recognition.