AGGREGATIVE PROPERTIES OF GANGLIOSIDES IN SOLUTION

The aggregative properties of gangliosides in diluted aqueous solution s are discussed on the basis of simple and well-established thermodyna mic concepts. Theoretical assumptions are compared with experimental d ata obtained, mainly by scattering techniques, on GM3, GM2, GM1, GD1a, GalNAc-GD1a, GD1b, GD1b lactone and GT1b gangliosides, all containing ceramide portions of similar composition, and on GM1 molecular specie s containing different well-defined ceramide structures. We also repor t on mixed aggregates with amphiphilic compounds and on the gangliosid e aggregate-soluble protein interaction effects which give rise to ver y stable lipoproteic complexes of well-defined ganglioside-protein com position.