Biochem/physiol Actions

Gangliosides plays an important role in cell-cell recognition, cell adhesion, contact inhibition, and tissue differentiation. GM1 ganglioside binds the cholera toxin.

General description

Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids, contains one or more residues of sialic acid. They are grouped according to the number of their sialic acid residues: one (M), two (D), or three (T). The GM1 ganglioside denotes a glycolipid that contains a monosialylated tetraose oligosaccharide (Galβ1 & 3GalNAcβ1 & 4(NeuAcα2 & 3)Galβ1 & 4Glcβ1 & 1′Cer). C18:0 GM1 ganglioside contains stearic acid as one of the fatty acid chain. These are normal components of the plasma membranes of mammalian cells and are abundant in neuronal membranes. Structurally, they possess the oligosaccharide chain constituting the hydrophilic portion in the extracellular medium and the ceramide moiety constituting the hydrophobic portion in the lipid layer of the membrane. The length and degree of unsaturation of both alkyl chains present in the ganglioside influences membrane fluidity and permeability. The ceramide portion regulates the activity of membrane-associated proteins.

Packaging

2 mL Amber Glass Sealed Ampule