sulfatide

chemical compound

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Sulfatides are a type of glycolipid and a derivative of ceramides. They are characterized by the presence of a sulfate group attached to a sugar molecule. Sulfatides are found in the white matter of the brain and are considered a type of cerebroside.1

These compounds are part of the larger class of sphingolipids, which are essential components of cell membranes. Sphingolipids play crucial roles in various biological processes, and abnormalities in their metabolism can lead to diseases known as sphingolipidoses, such as Tay-Sachs disease and Niemann-Pick disease.1

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sphingolipid
Sulfate-containing cerebrosides, known as sulfatides, occur in the white matter of brain. Gangliosides, most abundant in nerve tissue (especially the gray matter of brain) and certain other tissues (e.g., spleen) are similar to cerebrosides except that, in addition to the sugar component, they contain several other molecules of carbohydrate…
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Sulfate-containing cerebrosides, known as sulfatides, occur in the white matter of brain. Gangliosides, most abundant in nerve tissue (especially the gray matter of brain) and certain other tissues (e.g., spleen) are similar to cerebrosides except that, in addition to the sugar component, they contain several other molecules of carbohydrate…
Read More