Glycosphingolipid

As glycosphingolipids ( GSL ) are a group of lipids (specifically of sphingolipids ), which are involved in the structure of cell membranes. They contain a hydrophobic ceramide moiety and a glycosidically linked carbohydrate content. This oligosaccharide content is presented on the outside of the cell membrane where it is for biological processes such as cell adhesion or cell -cell interactions of importance. Also in oncogenesis and ontogenesis are glycosphingolipids of importance.

In general, two groups of glycosphingolipids distinguished: Neutral, also called cerebrosides GSL and negatively charged. The latter can be further distinguished on the basis of the charge carrier. As can be found in gangliosides sialic acids, sulfatides possess a sulfate group. The structural similarity of the bulk of all glycolipids is the so-called Laktosylceramid, ie a lactose disaccharide that is glycosidically linked to a ceramide. Larger structures are divided into different groups based on the sequence and configuration of the sugars present, the four most common are the Globo -, lacto-, neolacto and Ganglioserie.

Gangliosides are mainly found in the cell membranes of the central nervous system, where their carbohydrate group performs tasks in the interaction between cells and the signal transmission. However, in other cells are found gangliosides. Sialic acids are, for example, here Part of the so-called sialyl - Lewis x structure, a tetrasaccharide, which is different for different signal transduction processes of importance. Even neutral GSL are of biological importance, they include, for example, the blood group antigens.

Hereditary enzyme defects can lead to the degradation disturbance and storage of glycolipids in various organs. In Cerebrosidosen this relates to the cerebrosides ( Examples include Gaucher disease and Krabbe disease ) in Gangliosidoses the gangliosides (eg, Tay- Sachs disease ).