Trisialoganglioside GT1b, (bovine brain), (NH4+ salt)

Gangliosides1 are acidic glycosphingolipids that form lipid rafts in the outer leaflet of the cell plasma membrane, especially in neuronal cells in the central nervous system. They participate in cellular proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, signal transduction, cell-to-cell interactions, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. The accumulation of gangliosides has been linked to several diseases including Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease. An autoimmune response against gangliosides can lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome. GT1b induces degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and this may contribute to the initiation and/or progression of Parkinson’s disease.2 GT1b inhibits antigen or mitogen induced T-cell proliferative responses and has been identified as the botulinum toxin receptor, a rare toxin having severe physiological results.3 Borrelia burgdorferi (a gram negative bacteria) binds several glycosphingolipids including GT1b. GT1b is a scavenger for •OH radicals and protects against brain mtDNA damage, seizures, and lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species producers.4 Ehrlich tumor expresses the ganglioside GT1b, and anti-GT1b has great therapeutic potential against this cancer. This ganglioside has also been implicated in Miller Fisher syndrome.