Ganglioside GT1b is a trisialoganglioside that is characterized by having two sialic residues linked to the inner galactose unit. It binds to the neurotoxins botulinum toxin serotype A (BTxA), BTxA heavy chain, and tetanus toxin with IC50 values of 11, 0.74, and 7.2 μM, respectively.[1] Ganglioside GT1b-containing liposomes bind to the major coat protein VP1 from Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), which has been identified in Merkel cell carcinomas, identifying ganglioside GT1b as a putative MCPyV receptor. [2] Ganglioside GT1b decreases production of IL-6, IL-10, IgG, IgM, and IgA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by 31.4, 30.5, 60, 59.5, and 58%, respectively, when used at a concentration of 10 μM [3] . Ganglioside GT1b mixture contains ganglioside GT1b molecular species with C18:1 and C20:1 sphingoid backbones.
Reference:
[1]. Schengrund, C.-L., DasGupta, B.R., and Ringler, N.J. Binding of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins to ganglioside GT1b and derivatives thereof. J. Neurochem. 57(3), 1024-1032 (1991).
[2]. Erickson, K.D., Garcea, R.L., and Tsai, B. Ganglioside GT1b is a putative host cell receptor for the Merkel cell polyomavirus. J. Virol. 83(19), 10275-10279 (2009).
[3]. Kanda, N., and Tamaki, K. Ganglioside GT1b suppresses immunoglobulin production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Immunology 96(4), 628-633 (1999).