ganglioside

noun gan·gli·o·side \ ˈgaŋ-glē-ə-ˌsīd \

Definition of ganglioside

: any of a group of glycolipids that yield a hexose sugar on hydrolysis and are found especially in the plasma membrane of cells of the gray matter

Recent Examples of ganglioside from the Web

A mutation in the GLB1 gene causes the disease by not producing an enzyme that breaks down a substance known as GM1 ganglioside, which eventually reaches toxic levels.

— damin esper, The Mercury News, "Albany parent honored for medical research advocacy," 6 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ganglioside.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ganglioside

borrowed from German Ganglioside, from Ganglion ganglion + -oside (in Glycoside glycoside); so called because such lipids were first isolated from ganglia in the brain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1943

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

ganglioside

noun gan·gli·o·side \ ˈgaŋ-glē-ə-ˌsīd \

medical Definition of ganglioside

: any of a group of glycolipids that are found especially in the plasma membrane of cells of the gray matter and have sialic acid, hexoses, and hexosamines in the carbohydrate part and ceramide as the lipid