Principles of Biochemistry (2+1)

6.2.1.2.2.1 Glycosphingosides

6.2.1.2.2.1 Glycosphingosides or Cerebrosides

A Glycosphingolipid is a lipid that contains sphingosine,an amino alcohol, attached with an amide linkage to a fatty acid and a carbohydrate moiety. The major glycosphingolipids found in animal tissues are cerebrosides. They contain ceramide and one or more sugars. The two simplest are galactosylceramide and glucosylceramide.

Galactosylceramide is a major glycosphingolipid of (7% of dry mass) brain and other nervous tissue, but it is found in relatively low amounts elsewhere. It contains a number of characteristic C24 fatty acids, e.g. cerebronic acid. Galactosylceramide can be converted to sulfogalactosy 1 - ceramide (sulfatide), which is present in high amounts in myeline sheath of nerves. Glucosylceramide is the predominant glycosphingolipid of extraneural tissues, but it also occurs in the brain in small amounts.

Galactosylceramide