Gangliosides in the nervous system.

Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are embedded in neural plasma membranes to provide cell surface recognition sites with negative charges. Exogenous ligands such as bacterial toxins, hormones, growth factors, antibodies, viruses, and interferons bind to specific gangliosides to induce sequential activations of cellular metabolisms. Predominant expression of some of ganglioside series (A, B, C or hematosides) occurs during cell differentiation and transformation. Gangliosides may regulate cell growth and nerve sprouting, suggesting the potential therapeutic value for some neurological disorders. Current ganglioside research is more rapidly growing largely due to advancing methodologies.