The gangliosides

Abstract

The results of recent studies on the complexities of gangliosides from brain, spleen, and erythrocyte stroma are described, and ganglioside nomenclature is discussed. A description of the chemistry and methods of estimation of component groups (sialic acids, hexosamine and hexoses, fatty acids, and sphingosine bases) is followed by an account of the detailed investigation of isolated mono-, di-, and trisialogangliosides. Methods for the isolation of gangliosides from tissues and for their analysis are critically reviewed, and reference to the physiology of gangliosides is made.