NCIt definition : Sialoglycosphingolipids (synonym: gangliosides) are glycosphingolipids carrying one
or more sialic residues. Sialic acid is the generic term for N-acetyl- or N-glycoloylneuraminic
acid. Gangliosides are named as N-acetyl- (or N-glycoloyl-)neuraminosyl-(X)osylceramide,
where (X) stands for the root name of the neutral oligosaccharide to which the sialosyl
residue is attached; found principally in nerve tissue, spleen, and thymus; GM1 accumulates
in generalized gangliosidosis; GM2 accumulates in Tay-Sachs disease.;
Alternative definition : NCI-GLOSS: A complex molecule that contains both lipids (fats) and carbohydrates (sugars)
and is found in the plasma (outer) membrane of many kinds of cells. Several different
types of gangliosides have been identified.;