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Gangliosides: Structures, Biosynthesis, Analysis, and Roles in Cancer
Author(s) -
GrouxDegroote Sophie,
Guérardel Yann,
Delannoy Philippe
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.201600705
Subject(s) - glycan , transmembrane protein , biochemistry , signal transduction , chemistry , sphingolipid , sialic acid , biosynthesis , cancer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , lipid raft , cancer , biology , glycoprotein , receptor , genetics , enzyme
Gangliosides are acidic glycosphingolipids containing one or more sialic acid residues. They are essential compounds at the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, where they interact with phospholipids, cholesterol, and transmembrane proteins, forming lipid rafts. They are involved in cell adhesion, proliferation, and recognition processes, as well as in the modulation of signal transduction pathways. These functions are mainly governed by the glycan moiety, and changes in the structures of gangliosides occur under pathological conditions, particularly in neuro‐ectoderm‐derived cancers. With the progress in mass spectrometry analysis of gangliosides, their role in cancer progression can be now investigated in more detail. In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the biosynthesis of gangliosides and their role in cancers, together with the recent development of cancer immunotherapy targeting gangliosides.