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Glycosphingolipids

Complex glycosphingolipids—synthetic standards for cell signaling, neurobiology, & biomarker discovery.

Precision tools for decoding cellular complexity.

Complex glycosphingolipids are key compounds in decoding how cells communicate, differentiate, and react to disease in membrane biology, immunology, and neurological research. Avanti Research™ offers a curated collection of synthetic glycosphingolipids engineered with absolute structural fidelity and more than 97 percent purity.

From gangliosides to globosides, each compound is meticulously synthesized to empower advanced investigations into cell signaling, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, and biomarker discovery. Our fully synthetic approach ensures batch-to-batch reproducibility, which makes these tools indispensable for researchers navigating the molecular landscape of cancer biology, inflammation, and membrane dynamics.

Biological roles & research applications.

Complex glycosphingolipids are functional architects of cell behavior. These amphipathic lipids shape the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, helping form lipid rafts that anchor receptors and signaling complexes. Their carbohydrate-rich headgroups, which often contain sialic acid residues, enable critical interactions in immune surveillance, cell adhesion, and signal transduction.

Glycosphingolipid imbalances are implicated in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, certain cancers, and inherited metabolic syndromes. Their role in blood group antigen expression, especially globosides, places them at the center of transfusion science and hematological diagnostics. Altered glycosphingolipid signatures are emerging as diagnostic biomarkers for conditions ranging from glioblastoma to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Synthetic gangliosides, cerebrosides, & globosides: tailored molecules for targeted discovery.

Our glycosphingolipid catalog includes:

Cerebrosides: Single-sugar glycosphingolipids such as glucosyl sphingolipids, galactosyl sphingolipids and lactosyl sphingolipids used in myelin studies and basic membrane biology.
Gangliosides (GM3, GM2, GM1, GD2, GD3, GT3): Complex, sialylated glycosphingolipids central to neurobiology, developmental signaling, and tumor immunology.
Globosides (Gb3, Gb4, Forssman, Globo-A/B/H): Non-sialylated lipids involved in blood group determination, pathogen binding, and oncogenic transformation.
Isotopically labeled (e.g., C18:0-d₇ gangliosides): For quantitative LC-MS applications in lipidomics and biomarker validation workflows.

All products undergo strict QC and offer more than 97 percent purity, with structural verification provided in our technical documentation. Whether you're mapping glycan interactions or building a diagnostic panel, these synthetic lipids provide unmatched control and consistency.

Download the Glycosphingolipid Product Brochure

Documentation & synthesis for quality assurance.

Unlike extracted glycolipids, which can vary depending on source material and isolation technique, Avanti Research's™ glycosphingolipids are fully synthetic to ensure consistent performance across experiments and scale. Each batch is validated by advanced analytical techniques and shipped with Certificates of Analysis (CoA) and MSDS documentation.

We also offer:

Flexible packaging in research-ready vials
Isotopically labeled variants for LC-MS workflows
Custom synthesis of specific ceramide or sugar variants for bespoke research needs.

No matter your research needs, you can trust our materials to deliver clarity.

FAQs

What's the difference between gangliosides and globosides?

Gangliosides have one or more sialic acid residues, and this gives them a negative charge and key roles in neuronal signaling. Globosides, on the other hand, are neutral glycosphingolipids involved in blood group expression and pathogen recognition.

Are these products suitable for LC-MS quantification?

Yes, our isotopically labeled standards, like C18:0‑d₇ gangliosides, are validated in multiplex LC-MS workflows to enable accurate lipid profiling in serum and tissue.

Do you support bulk or custom quantity requests?

Yes, we offer bulk packaging and custom synthesis to accommodate high-throughput assays, pharmaceutical development, and biomarker discovery projects.