GD3

Full Name

GD3 Ganglioside

Keywords

GD3 Ganglioside; Neu5Aca2-8Neu5Aca2-3Galb1-4Glcb1-1Cer

Background

Gangliosides are membrane-bound, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids that play a significant role in determining the nature of tetraspanin interactions. Ganglioside GD3 is produced by the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-sialic acid to GM3. This reaction is catalyzed by the type II membrane protein GD3 Synthase. Ganglioside GD3 is known to be important for cell adhesion and growth of cultured malignant cells. It is found in most normal tissues, and its expression increases under pathological conditions and during development and aging processes. In malignant melanoma cells, Ganglioside GD3 is involved in the upregulation of tyrosine phosphorylation for p130 Cas and paxillin. Ganglioside GD3 also mediates apoptosis, functioning as a regulatory molecule and contributing to mitochondrial damage. The level of Ganglioside GD3 present in a cell plays a significant role in determining cell fate.