Ganglioside GM3 . sodium salt

Gangliosides are acidic glycosphingolipids that form lipid rafts in the outer leaflet of the cell plasma membrane, especially in neuronal cells in the central nervous system. They participate in cellular proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, signal transduction, cell-to-cell interactions, tumorigenesis and metastasis. The accumulation of gangliosides has been linked to several diseases. Ganglioside GM3 is the most abundant ganglioside in mammals. It is involved in several tumor processes by interacting with receptors. It inhibits epidermal cell growth and blocks insulin receptor activity. Exogenous GM3 ganglioside inhibits atherosclerosis.