lyso-Monosialoganglioside GM1

Gangliosides1 are acidic glycosphingolipids containing sialic acids that form lipid rafts in the outer leaflet of the cell plasma membrane, especially in neuronal cells in the central nervous system.2 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. GM1 stimulates neuronal sprouting and enhances the action of nerve growth factor (NGF) by directly and tightly associating with Trk, the high-affinity tyrosine kinase-type receptor for NGF. It is the specific cell surface receptor for cholera toxin. Lyso gangliosides modulate cellular signaling and are being investigated for their immunological potential. They are ideal for obtaining synthetic neoganglioside proteins which can promote an efficient immune response against gangliosides and are therefore important biochemical tools.3 Lyso gangliosides also seem to have damage limiting effects on nerve cells. Lyso ganglioside GM1 is ideal for making well-defined GM1, anti-ganglioside GM1, and molecular probes.