Aggregative properties of gangliosides in solution.

The aggregative properties of gangliosides in diluted aqueous solutions are discussed on the basis of simple and well-established thermodynamic concepts. Theoretical assumptions are compared with experimental data obtained, mainly by scattering techniques, on GM3, GM2, GM1, GD1a, GalNAc-GD1a, GD1b, GD1b lactone and GT1b gangliosides, all containing ceramide portions of similar composition, and on GM1 molecular species containing different well-defined ceramide structures. We also report on mixed aggregates with amphiphilic compounds and on the ganglioside aggregate-soluble protein interaction effects which give rise to very stable lipoproteic complexes of well-defined ganglioside-protein composition.