Ganglioside GD3 diammonium is an acidic glycosphingolipid. Ganglioside GD3 diammonium inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells, affects the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTPC), induces apoptosis and activates caspase family. Ganglioside GD3 diammonium can be used in research about cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Ganglioside GD3 diammonium is highly expressed in melanomas in comparison with melanocytes, is exclusively expressed in the early developmental stage of the fetal brain, and is highly expressed in activated T lymphocytes and in T cell malignant tumor cells suggest that GD3 is involved in tumor phenotypes, such as enhanced proliferation and frequent metastasis[2].
References:
[1]. Malisan F, et al., GD3 ganglioside and apoptosis. Biochim Biops Acta. 2002 Dec 30;1585(2-3):179-87.
[2]. Kazunori Hamamura, et al. Ganglioside GD3 promotes cell growth and invasion through p130Cas and paxillin in malignant melanoma cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Aug 2;102(31):11041-6.