title: Subcellular distribution and possible role of gangliosides in the CNS.
abstract: From cell fractionation studies it is concluded that gangliosides have a wide distribution in neuronal plasma membranes, being concentrated in the microsomal and the nerve-ending membranes rich in acetylcholinesterase. When properly purified synaptic vesicles are devoid of gangliosides and acetylcholinesterase; thus the possible relationship between gangliosides and the cholinergic transmitter should be discarded. There are important evidences that specific gangliosides may play a role in the binding of certain toxins and viruses to the plasma membrane; however, their possible role as synaptic receptors is not supported by our experiments. The central receptor for 5HT appears not to be related to brain gangliosides and is represented by a hydrophobic protein (i.e. proteolipid) present in the synaptic junction.
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D012794:Sialic Acids; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase