Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Gangliosides are a group of glycolipids found in the plasma membrane of cells, particularly in the gray matter of the brain. They were first isolated from brain ganglia, hence their name.1

These lipids play a role in lipid storage diseases, which are hereditary disorders where specific lipids accumulate in the body due to enzyme defects. In Tay-Sachs disease, for example, gangliosides build up in the central nervous system, leading to severe mental deficiency and deterioration.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. ganglioside
  2. lipid storage disease

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.