Schematic representation of the major pathways of ganglioside biosynthesis

Schematic representation of the major pathways of ganglioside biosynthesis. (A) The monosialoganglioside GM3, derived from lactosylceramide, is the common precursor for both ‘a’ and ‘b’ pathway gangliosides. Each ganglioside species consists of a ceramide backbone (CER), and a carbohydrate chain (glc=glucose, gal=galactose, GalNAc=N-acetylgalactosamine) containing one or more sialic acid (SA) residues. ‘a’ and ‘b’ pathway gangliosides downstream of GD1b/GM1a synthase were designated complex ‘a’ (CaG) and complex ‘b’ (CbG) gangliosides, respectively. (B) Parallel steps in both pathways are catalysed by the same glycosyltransferases of the Golgi apparatus (): (1), GD3 synthase (α-2,8-sialyltransferase): (2), GM2/GD2 synthase (β-1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase); (3), GD1b/GM1a synthase (β-1,3-galactosyltransferase); (4), GT1b/GD1a synthase (α-2,3-sialyltransferase); (5), GQ1b/GT1a synthase (α-2,8-sialyltransferase). For each enzyme, accession numbers according to the NCBI protein bank are included.

Publication

Alterations in neuroblastoma ganglioside synthesis by induction of GD1b synthase by retinoic acid. (2004) S Hettmer, et al. Br J Cancer. 2004 Jul 19;91(2):389-397. Figure: F1. All organisms Drosophila melanogaster Homo sapiens

Disease mentions