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Explore the diverse roles of globoside in cellular processes, disease pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies. Learn about its structural composition, functional implications, and analytical techniques.
Globosides are multifunctional glycosphingolipids that play critical roles in various cellular processes. One of their key functions is in cellular recognition and adhesion.
Based on development of various methodologies for isolation and characterization of glycosphingolipids (GSLs), we have identified a number of GSLs with globo-series or lacto-series structure. Many of them are tumor-associated or developmentally-regulated antigens. The major question arose, what are their functions in cells and tissues?
Globosides are a sub-class of the lipid class glycosphingolipid [1] with three to nine sugar molecules as the side chain (or R group) of ceramide. The sugars are usually a combination of N -acetylgalactosamine, D -glucose or D -galactose.
Globosides and gangliosides (the most complex) are complex glycosphingolipids that contain a ceramide and an oligosaccharide fragment. They are particularly abundant at nerve endings and at specific hormone receptor sites on cell surfaces and therefore play an important role in molecular recognition.
Globoside is an intermediate in the synthesis of more complex structures of the globo series of glycosphingolipids such as the Forsmann antigen, the stage-specific embryonic antigen 4 and globo-H.
Globoside is present on the villous trophoblast layer of the placenta and its expression may facilitate transcytosis of virus to the fetal circulation [58]. Endothelial placental cells can be productively infected, facilitating the establishment of fetal infection and contributing to placental damage [59] .
