gangliosideihin

Gangliosides are a class of glycosphingolipids that contain one or more sialic acid residues in their carbohydrate moiety. They are a subclass of sphingolipids and are distinguished from other glycosphingolipids by the presence of these negatively charged sialic acids. The basic structure consists of a ceramide backbone linked to a glycan chain that includes galactose, glucose and at least one sialic acid. The most common gangliosides in mammalian tissues are GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and GQ1b, each differing in the number and position of sialic acid residues.

Gangliosides are concentrated in the plasma membranes of neurons and other cells of the nervous system, where they play multiple roles in cell‑cell recognition, signal transduction, and modulation of membrane protein activity. They are involved in the formation of lipid rafts, which are microdomains that organize signaling molecules. At the neuronal level, gangliosides influence axon guidance, synaptic transmission, and repair mechanisms after injury. Alterations in ganglioside composition are linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as to certain types of cancer where they can serve as tumor markers.

In addition to their physiological functions, gangliosides are targets for therapeutic intervention. Antibodies against specific ganglioside epitopes are used in diagnostic imaging and in targeted drug delivery. Viral pathogens, notably poliovirus and cytomegalovirus, exploit gangliosides as receptors to enter host cells. The study of ganglioside biosynthesis, turnover and interaction with proteins provides insight into both normal brain physiology and disease processes.