GM3
File:Structure of GM1, GM2, GM3.pngs]]
GM3 (monosialodihexosylganglioside) is a type of ganglioside. The letter G refers to ganglioside, and M is for monosialic acid as it has only one sialic acid group. The numbering is based on its relative mobility in electrophoresis among other monosialic gangliosides.{{cite book |title=Biochemistry |isbn=978-81-312-2312-3 |last1=Puri |first1=Dinesh | name-list-style = vanc |year=2011 }} Its structure can be condensed to NANA-Gal-Glc-ceramide. GM3 is the most common membrane-bound glycosphingolipid in tissues, composed of three monosaccharide groups attached to a ceramide backbone.{{cite journal | vauthors = Chan RB, Perotte AJ, Zhou B, Liong C, Shorr EJ, Marder KS, Kang UJ, Waters CH, Levy OA, Xu Y, Shim HB, Pe'er I, Di Paolo G, Alcalay RN | display-authors = 6 | title = Elevated GM3 plasma concentration in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: A lipidomic analysis | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 12 | issue = 2 | pages = e0172348 | date = 2017-02-17 | pmid = 28212433 | pmc = 5315374 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0172348 | bibcode = 2017PLoSO..1272348C | doi-access = free }} GM3 serves as a precursor for other, more complex gangliosides. Like other gangliosides, GM3 is synthesized in the Golgi apparatus. It is then transported to the plasma membrane, where it functions in cellular signaling. GM3 also functions as an inhibitor; it inhibits cell growth, the function of growth factor receptors, and generation of cytokines by T cells.{{cite journal | vauthors = Tsukuda Y, Iwasaki N, Seito N, Kanayama M, Fujitani N, Shinohara Y, Kasahara Y, Onodera T, Suzuki K, Asano T, Minami A, Yamashita T | title = Ganglioside GM3 has an essential role in the pathogenesis and progression of rheumatoid arthritis | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 7 | issue = 6 | pages = e40136 | date = 2012-06-29 | pmid = 22768242 | pmc = 3387008 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0040136 | editor-first = Mauricio | bibcode = 2012PLoSO...740136T | editor-last = Rojas | doi-access = free }}
Applications in cancer treatment
The immunologic function of GM3 in inhibiting proliferation has resulted in its usage in the study of cancer biology and cancer treatments. GM3 has been found to reduce the motility of ovarian cancer cells, colorectal cancer cells, and gastric cancer cells. High amounts of GM3 also displayed a high amount of caveolin-1, a molecule which has been shown to inhibit ovarian cancer growth.{{cite journal | vauthors = Hakomori SI | title = Glycosynaptic microdomains controlling tumor cell phenotype through alteration of cell growth, adhesion, and motility | journal = FEBS Letters | volume = 584 | issue = 9 | pages = 1901–6 | date = May 2010 | pmid = 19874824 | pmc = 2867360 | doi = 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.10.065 }} In bladder cancer cells, GM3 show antiproliferative effects. Increased concentrations of GM3 in bladder cancer cells reduces the malignancy potential of those cells and induces apoptosis.{{cite journal | vauthors = Chung TW, Choi HJ, Kim SJ, Kwak CH, Song KH, Jin UH, Chang YC, Chang HW, Lee YC, Ha KT, Kim CH | title = The ganglioside GM3 is associated with cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human colon cancer cells | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 9 | issue = 5 | pages = e92786 | date = 2014-05-14 | pmid = 24829158 | pmc = 4020741 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0092786 | bibcode = 2014PLoSO...992786C | doi-access = free }} The addition of GM3 to bladder cancer cells also decreases their cell adhesion and inhibits tumor growth.{{cite journal | vauthors = Wang H, Isaji T, Satoh M, Li D, Arai Y, Gu J | title = Antitumor effects of exogenous ganglioside GM3 on bladder cancer in an orthotopic cancer model | language = English | journal = Urology | volume = 81 | issue = 1 | pages = 210.e11–5 | date = January 2013 | pmid = 23102779 | doi = 10.1016/j.urology.2012.08.015 | url = https://www.goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(12)00927-2/abstract | url-access = subscription }} Due to its role in inhibiting cancer growth, GM3 is a target of cancer treatments. The chemotherapy drug cisplatin functions by inducing GM3-mediated apoptosis of cancer cells.