Metabolism of Lipids 9 Sections27 LessonsLifetime
Glycosphingolipids
Glycosphingolipids are also classified in Complex Lipids.
In the previous lesson I told you that when a fatty acid is attached to sphingosine, a Ceramide is formed.
When a carbohydrate is attached to a ceramide then a Glycosphingolipid is formed.
These are further divided into:
- Cerebrosides,
- Gangliosides
Cerebrosides
In Cerebrosides the carbohydrate is a simple hexose either Glucose or Galactose.
Cerebrosides are present in the white matter of brain, myelin sheaths of the fibres.
Further subdivided according to the structure of fatty acids:
- Cerbron
- Nervon
- Oxynervon
- Psychosine (cytotoxic)
Gangliosides
In Gangliosides the carbohydrate is Oligosaccharide i.e. a complex carbohydrate.
Gangliosides are present in the grey matter of the brain.
These are subdivided into:
- GM
- GD
- GT
G for Ganglioside; M for Monosialic acid; D for Disialic acid; T for Trisialic acid.