Diglyceride kinase from Escherichia coli: Modulation of enzyme activity by glycosphingolipids

Diglyceride kinase was purified from membranes of Escherichia coli K-12 using organic solvents. The enzyme apoprotein depended on lipids, such as cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol), phosphatidylcholine or 1-monooleoylglycerol, for activity with 1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol. Mixed brain cerebrosides and gangliosides as well as defined ganglioside fractions and synthetic lactocerebroside were devoid of lipid cofactor activity. However, all these glycosphingolipids were strong inhibitors of activation by phosphatidylcholine. When cardiolipin was used as lipid activator with the detergent, Triton X-100, as solubilizing agent, the addition of mixed or purified gangliosides first (at about 0.4 mM) resulted in additional activation, but higher ganglioside concentrations were strongly inhibitory. Both effects were absolutely dependent on the presence of lipid-bound sialic acid and were not given by cerebrosides, by free sialic acid or by sialyl-lactose. The stimulating and inhibitory effects of glycosphingolipids could also be demonstrated when 1-monooleoylglycerol was used as substrate, lipid activator and solubilizing agent at the same time. The modulation of kinase activity by glycosphingolipids is discussed at the level of lipid/protein interactions.     

Lipid composition of lymphocyte plasma membrane from pig mesenteric lymph node.

1. The lipid fraction of the plasma membrane of pig mesenteric lymph-node lymphocytes contained primarily (94%) neutral lipids and phospholipids in about equal weights. The remianing lipid comprised glycosphingolipids (1.8%), gangliosides (o.27%)and probably ceramides (1.3%).The major phospholipid was phosphatidylcholine (46% of the total), and mono- and tri-hexosylceramides accounted for 72% of the glycosphingolipids. Haematoside was distributed between the glycosphingolipid and ganglioside fractions. The major ganglioside was monosialoganglioside. About 90% of the sialic acid was N-glycollylated. 2. A comparision of the lipid composition of the plasma-membrane fraction with that of the initial lymph-node homogenate showed that the purified membrane contained increased proportions of phospholipids, especially sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids and gangliosides. 3. Fatty acid analyses showed that the membrane phosphatidylcholine was rich in palmitic acid, that the sphingomeyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine were high in myristic acid and that the glycosphingolipids were rich in oleic acid.     

Immunosuppression by human gangliosides: I. Relationship of carbohydrate structure to the inhibition of T cell responses.

Causes of cellular immunodeficiency frequently associated with cancer remain poorly understood. One possible mechanism is tumor cell membrane shedding of immunosuppressive molecules, such as the sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, gangliosides. To explore this interesting hypothesis and establish structure-activity relationships, we examined the effects of a series of highly purified human gangliosides on T cell function. In all, ten individual molecular species of two major biosynthetic pathways were compared for their ability to inhibit human T cell proliferative responses. They include GM1, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b (the predominant normal brain species), and GM4, GM3, GM2, GD3, GD2 and GQ1b. Strikingly, each HPLC-purified molecule, from the simplest monosialoganglioside to the most complex polysialoganglioside, had potent inhibitory activity; even the ganglioside with the most elemental carbohydrate structure (GM4, one sialic acid linked to a monosaccharide) strongly inhibits T cell proliferative responses to tetanus toxoid (ID90 = 1.5 microM). The data also reveal a complex interplay between elements of oligosaccharide structure in determining immunosuppressive activity. Sialic acid is critical to maximal activity, and (i) immunosuppression is most potent in gangliosides containing a terminal sialic acid. (ii) Total desialylation almost abolishes activity and (iii) partial alteration (lactone formation) reduces activity. (iv) Activity is generally but not always higher with higher numbers of sialic acid residues/molecule, and (v) some larger neutral glycosphingolipids retain measurable immunosuppressive activity. Overall, the potent inhibition by gangliosides supports the hypothesis that shedding of these molecules by tumors creates a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment around the tumor, thereby inhibiting the function of infiltrating host leukocytes and contributing to diminished T cell responses in cancer.     

Glycolipids: Receptors for fibronectin?

We have examined the hypothesis that glycolipids might serve as receptors for the cell surface glycoprotein fibronectin using three different biological assay systems. We find that purified solubilized gangliosides inhibit fibronectin-mediated hemagglutination, cell spreading, and restoration of a normal morphologic phenotype to transformed cells. The inhibition is dose-dependent and competitive; hemagglutination by 2 micrograms/ml fibronectin is half-maximally inhibited by less than 1 microM gangliosides. The most effective ganglioside inhibitors generally contain the most sialic acid residues. The isolated oligosaccharide portions of gangliosides retain this inhibitory activity and the oligosaccharides with more sialic acid are more effective inhibitors. A series of other lipids or ganglioside constituents are either less effective or without detectable activity. The more active of these lipids are the more negatively charged phospholipids such as phosphatidyl serine and phosphatidyl inositol. Our results support the hypothesis that the "receptors" for fibronectin on the cell surface either consist of or contain gangliosides or other negatively charged lipids.     

Inhibition of TLR activation and up-regulation of IL-1R-associated kinase-M expression by exogenous gangliosides

Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids present in the outer leaflet of plasma membranes, are produced at high levels by some tumors, are actively shed into the tumor microenvironment, and can be detected in high concentrations in the serum of cancer patients. These tumor-shed molecules are known to be immunosuppressive, although mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we show that membrane enrichment of human monocytes with purified exogenous gangliosides potently inhibits ligand-induced activation and proinflammatory cytokine production induced by a broad range of TLRs, including TLR2, TLR3, TLR6, and TLR7/8, in addition to a previously identified inhibitory effect on TLR4 and TLR5. Inhibition of TLR activation is reversible, with complete restoration of TLR signaling within 6-24 h of washout of exogenous gangliosides, and is selective for certain gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, and GD1b), whereas others (GM3) are inactive. To characterize the inhibition, we assessed the expression of the TLR signaling pathway inhibitor, IL-1 receptor associated kinase-M (IRAK-M). In response to ganglioside enrichment alone, we observed striking up-regulation of IRAK-M in monocytes, but without concomitant proinflammatory cytokine production. This contrasts with endotoxin tolerance, in which IRAK-M up-regulation follows proinflammatory cytokine expression caused by LPS exposure. We hypothesize that ganglioside treatment induces a state of tolerance to TLR signaling, leading to blunted activation of innate immune responses. In the tumor microenvironment, shed tumor ganglioside enrichment of APC membranes may likewise cause these cells to bypass the normal TLR signaling response and progress directly to the inhibitory state.     

Differential effects of glycosphingolipids on protein kinase C activity in PC12D pheochromocytoma cells

Previous studies have shown that certain glycosphingolipids may function as modulators of protein kinase C (PKC) activity. To study the structure-activity relationship, we examined the effects of 17 gangliosides, 10 neutral glycolipids, as well as sulfatide, psychosine and ceramide on PKC activity in PC12D cells. Using an in vitro assay system, we found that all but one (GQ1b) ganglioside inhibited PKC activity at concentrations between 25 and 100 µM, and the potency was proportional to the number of sialic acid residues. However, at lower concentrations several gangliosides, including GM1 and LM1 behaved as mild activators of PKC activity. GQ1b had no effect within the range 0.1–10 µM, but acted as a mild activator of PKC activity at 25 µM. On the other hand, fucosyl-GM1 and GM1 containing blood group B determinant, which are abundant in PC12 cells, were potent inhibitors of PKC activity. Among the neutral glycosphingolipids tested, LacCer, Gb3, GalGb3, and GA1, all of which have a terminal galactose residue, were found to be ineffective or acted as mild activators of PKC activity. In contrast, GA2, Gb4 and Gb5 which have a terminal N-acetylgalactosamine residue, were potent inhibitors of the PKC activity. Thus, the terminal sugar residue may play a pivotal role in determining the effect of glycosphingolipids in modulating PKC activity. In addition, we also found that GalCer containing normal fatty acids acted as potent activators of PKC activity. Ceramide and GlcCer appeared to be ineffective in modulating PKC activity, whereas psychosine and sulfatides appeared to be inhibitory. We conclude that the carbohydrate head groups and the hydrophobic groups of gangliosides and neutral glycolipids may modulate the PKC system in unique manners, which may in turn affect various biological processes in the cell.     

Specific Synthesis of Neurostatin and Gangliosides O-Acetylated in the Outer Sialic Acids Using a Sialate Transferase

Gangliosides are sialic acid containing glycosphingolipids, commonly found on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. O-acetylation of sialic acid hydroxyl groups is one of the most common modifications in gangliosides. Studies on the biological activity of O-acetylated gangliosides have been limited by their scarcity in nature. This comparatively small change in ganglioside structure causes major changes in their physiological properties. When the ganglioside GD1b was O-acetylated in the outer sialic acid, it became the potent inhibitor of astroblast and astrocytoma proliferation called Neurostatin. Although various chemical and enzymatic methods to O-acetylate commercial gangliosides have been described, O-acetylation was nonspecific and produced many side-products that reduced the yield. An enzyme with O-acetyltransferase activity (SOAT) has been previously cloned from the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. This enzyme catalyzed the acetylation of oligosaccharide-bound sialic acid, with high specificity for terminal alpha-2,8-linked residues. Using this enzyme and commercial gangliosides as starting material, we have specifically O-acetylated the gangliosides’ outer sialic acids, to produce the corresponding gangliosides specifically O-acetylated in the sialic acid bound in alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,8 residues. We demonstrate here that O-acetylation occurred specifically in the C-9 position of the sialic acid. In summary, we present a new method of specific O-acetylation of ganglioside sialic acids that permits the large scale preparation of these modified glycosphingolipids, facilitating both, the study of their mechanism of antitumoral action and their use as therapeutic drugs for treating glioblastoma multiform (GBM) patients.     

Gangliosides activate cultured rat brain microglia

Microglia, brain resident macrophages, are activated in brain injuries and several neurodegenerative diseases. However, microglial activators that are produced in the brain are not yet defined. In this study, we showed that gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, could be a microglial activator. Gangliosides induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The effect of gangliosides on NO release increased dose-dependently in the range of 10-100 microgram/ml; however, the effect decreased at concentrations higher than 200 microgram/ml. Specific types of gangliosides showed differential effects on microglial activation. Similar to gangliosides, GT1b induced production of NO and TNF-alpha and expression of COX-2. However, GM1 and GD1a induced expression of COX-2 but had little effect on NO and TNF-alpha release. The effect of gangliosides and GT1b on NO release was reduced in the presence of neuraminidase, which removes sialic acid residues from gangliosides and GT1b. Gangliosides activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase significantly but activated c-jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase and p38 relatively weakly. The inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by PD98059 reduced NO release from both gangliosides- and GT1b-treated microglia whereas inhibition of p38 by SB203580 increased it rather slightly. Gangliosides activated NF-kappaB, and N-acetyl cystein, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, reduced NO release. These results suggest that gangliosides could be a microglial activator that functions via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-kappaB.     

Glycosphingolipids of human aorta

The structures of the main gangliosides of human aorta (intima and media) were elucidated. The main component (67%) was identified as N-acetylneuraminosyl-lactosylceramide (ganglioside GM3). The aorta tissue contained also gangliosides GM1, GD3, GD1a, and GT1. All sialic acid residues in gangliosides were present as N-acetyl-neuraminosyl derivatives. Among neutral glycosphingolipids of human aorta, the main components were identified as glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, globotriaosylceramide and globotetraosylceramide. The preliminary data suggest that the composition of the investigated glycosphingolipids in tissue might vary upon atherosclerosis lesions of aorta.     

Campylobacter pylori colonization factor shows specificity for lactosylceramide sulfate and GM3 ganglioside

The specificity of Campylobacter pylori cell surface lectin, a presumptive colonization factor, was investigated using various sulfated and sialic acid containing glycolipids. C. pylori cells, cultured from human antral mucosal biopsies, were incubated with intact and modified glycolipid preparations and examined for agglutination inhibition of human erythrocytes. Titration data revealed that the inhibitory activity was highest with lactosylceramide sulfate and GM3 ganglioside, while galactosylceramide sulfate GM1, GD1a and GD1b gangliosides were less effective. A strong inhibitory activity towards C. pylori hemagglutin was also observed with an antiulcer agent, sucralfate. The inhibitory effect of both types of glycolipids was abolished by the removal of sialic acid and sulfate ester groups, thus indicating that sulfated and sialic acid containing glycolipids with terminal lactosyl moieties serve as mucosal receptors for colonization of gastric epithelium by C. pylori.     

Lack of specificity of brain gangliosides in the modulation of lymphocyte activation

A potential role for glycolipid gangliosides to act as immunomodulating agents has been suggested. Most studies have employed brain gangliosides. We have systematically investigated highly purified murine brain gangliosides for their ability to modulate lymphocyte activation. All sialic acid classes of ganglioside inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced antibody secretion and all polysialated gangliosides inhibited LPS-induced DNA synthesis. Monosialated gangliosides had no effect on DNA synthesis induced by LPS. 8-BrcGMP-induced DNA synthesis was also inhibited, suggesting that a negative signal was delivered to B lymphocytes by co-cultivation with exogenous gangliosides. The lack of specificity with respect to sialic acid class observed in these studies suggests that further investigation of an immunomodulatory role for gangliosides focus on endogenous lymphocyte gangliosides.     

Modulation of phospholipase A2 activity by neutral and anionic glycosphingolipids in monolayers.

The effect of neutral (galactocerebroside and asialo-ganglioside GM1) or anionic (sulphatide and gangliosides GM1, GD1a and GT1b) glycosphingolipids on the activity of phospholipase A2 from pig pancreas was studied in mixed monolayers of dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine with the glycosphingolipids in different molar fractions at various constant surface pressures. The activity of the enzyme depends on the proportion and type of glycosphingolipid in the interface. Sulphatide activates the enzyme at all proportions, whereas galactocerebroside shows inhibition or activation depending on its proportion in the film. Asialo-ganglioside GM1 and gangliosides GM1, GD1a and GT1b can strongly inhibit the enzyme at relatively low molar fractions in the film in the following order: asialo-ganglioside GM1 less than ganglioside GM1 less than ganglioside GT1b less than ganglioside GD1a. The changes of activity are not due to a direct action of the lipids on the active centre or interfacial recognition region of the enzyme.     

Glycosphingolipid specificity of the human sulfatide activator protein

The interaction of the sulfatide activator protein with different glycosphingolipids have been studied in detail. The following findings were made. 1. The sulfatide activator protein forms water-soluble complexes with sulfatides [Fischer, G. and Jatzkewitz, H. (1977) Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem. 356, 6588-6591] and various other glycospingolipids. 2. In the absence of degrading enzymes the activator protein acts in vitro as a glycosphingolipid transfer protein, transporting glycosphingolipids from donor to acceptor liposomes. Lipids having less than three hexoses, e.g. galactosylceramide, sulfatide and ganglioside GM3 were transferred at very slow rates, whereas complex lipids such as gangliosides GM2, GM1 and GD1a were transferred much faster than the former. The transfer rate increased with increasing length of the carbohydrate chain of the lipid molecules. 3. Both the acyl residue in the ceramide moiety and the nature of the carbohydrate chain are significant for recognition of the glycosphingolipids by the sulfatide activator protein. Apparently, both residues serve as an anchor and the longer they are the better they are recognized by the protein. 4. In the absence of activator protein, degradation rates of sulfatide derivatives by arylsulfatase A, and of ganglioside GM1 derivatives by beta-galactosidase, increase with decreasing length of acyl residues in their hydrophobic ceramide moiety. Addition of activator protein stimulates the degradation of only those GM1 and sulfatide derivatives that have long-chain fatty acids in their hydrophobic ceramide anchor.     

Lipid content in brain and spinal cord during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rats

Abstract— The content of cerebrosides, sulphatides, gangliosides, cholesterol and phospholipids was evaluated in the brain and spinal cord of rats during the acute and recovery stages of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). During the acute stage there was a significant decrease of sulphatides and gangliosides in spinal cord; in brain, only sulphatides were diminished. In the recovery stage, cerebrosides and gangliosides were decreased in the brain, whereas the lipid content of the spinal cord was similar to that in control animals. Cholesterol esters were detected in the brain and spinal cord during both periods. The results show that the changes are not the same for brain and spinal cord during the acute and recovery stages and that glycosphingolipids from either white or grey matter seem to be preferentially altered.     

Expression of Mouse Sialic Acid on Gangliosides of a Human Glioma Grown as a Xenograft in SCID Mice

Ganglioside sialic acid content was examined in the U87-MG human glioma grown as cultured cells and as a xenograft in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. The cultured cells and the xenograft possessed N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc)-containing gangliosides, despite the inability of human cells to synthesize NeuGc. Human cells express only N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc)-containing gangliosides, whereas mouse cells express both NeuAc- and NeuGc-containing gangliosides. Small amounts of NeuGc ganglioside sialic acid (2-3% of total ganglioside sialic acid) were detected in the cultured cells, whereas large amounts (66% of total ganglioside sialic acid) were detected in the xenograft. The NeuGc in gangliosides of the cultured cells was derived from gangliosides in the fetal bovine serum of the culture medium, whereas that in the U87-MG xenograft was derived from gangliosides of the SCID host. The chromatographic distribution of U87-MG gangliosides differed markedly between the in vitro and in vivo growth environments. The neutral glycosphingolipids in the U87-MG cells consisted largely of glucosylceramide, galactosylceramide, and lactosylceramide, and their distribution also differed in the two growth environments. Asialo-GM1 (Gg4Cer) was not present in the cultured tumor cells but was expressed in the xenograft, suggesting an origin from infiltrating cells (macrophages) from the SCID host. The infiltration of mouse host cells and the expression of mouse sialic acid on human tumor cell glycoconjugates may alter the biochemical and immunogenic properties of xenografts.     

Determination of N-acetyl- and N-glycolylneuraminic acids in gangliosides by combination of neuraminidase hydrolysis and fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatography using a GM3 derivative as an internal standard

A highly sensitive method for quantification of sialic acids in gangliosides was developed. The sialic acids, released by hydrolysis of gangliosides, were converted to fluorescent derivatives with 1,2-diamino-4,5-(methylenedioxy)benzene (DMB) and separated on a reversed-phase C18 column with an isocratic elution. As little as 0.1-1.0 nmol of sialic acid in ganglioside was quantified. The use of acetate buffer instead of water in the mobile phase could prevent damage on the column and reduce background peaks derived from the reagents. When gangliosides were subjected to acid hydrolysis, the velocity of hydrolysis varied depending on their structures and a part of the sialic acid liberated decomposed with prolonged heating time. Therefore gangliosides were hydrolyzed by Arthrobacter ureafaciens neuraminidase in the presence of sodium cholate after addition of an internal standard. For the internal standard, GM3 with N-propionylneuraminic acid (GM3(NeuPr)) was synthesized from GM3(NeuAc) by N-deacylation followed by N-propionylation. Folch partition was used to decrease lipophilic materials included in the sample, and the sialic acids released were recovered from the upper phase. The present method has a satisfactory sensitivity in the simultaneous quantification of NeuAc and NeuGc in purified gangliosides as well as in crude lipid fractions containing a variety of gangliosides.     

Degradation of gangliosides by the lysosomal sialidase requires an activator protein.

Lysosomal sialidase, which was formerly believed to degrade only water-soluble substrates but not glycolipids, cleaves ganglioside substrates II3NeuNAc-LacCer, IV3NeuNAc, II3NeuNAc-GgOse4Cer, IV3 NeuNAc, II3(NeuNAc)2-GgOse4Cer when these are dispersed either with an appropriate detergent (taurodeoxycholate) or with the sulfatide activator protein, a physiologic lipid solubilizer required for the lysosomal hydrolysis of other glycolipids by water-soluble hydrolases. In the presence of the activator protein, time and protein dependence were linear within wide limits, while the detergent rapidly inactivated the enzyme. The disialo group of the b-series gangliosides was only poorly attacked by the enzyme when the lipids were dispersed with the activator protein, whereas in the presence of the detergent, they were hydrolyzed as fast as terminal sialic acid residues. With the appropriate assay method, significant ganglioside sialidase activity could be demonstrated in the secondary lysosome fraction of normal skin fibroblasts but not of sialidosis fibroblasts. Our results support the notion that there is only one lysosomal sialidase, which degrades both the water-soluble and the membrane-bound sialyl glycoconjugates.     

Modulation of phospholipase A2 by electrostatic fields and dipole potential of glycosphingolipids in monolayers

Phospholipase A2 activity against mixed monolayers of dilauroylphosphatidic acid or dilauroylphosphatidylcholine with glycosphingolipids can be reversibly modulated by external constant electrostatic fields. The changes of enzymatic activity are correlated to the depolarization or hyperpolarization of the film caused by specific dipolar properties of glycosphingolipids. Hyperpolarizing fields enhance the enzymatic activity against pure dilauroylphosphatidic acid while depolarizing fields induce a decrease of activity. Compared to the pure substrate, the interface of mixed films containing neutral glycosphingolipids or gangliosides is already partially depolarized and the magnitude of activation induced by an external hyperpolarizing field is decreased; conversely, depolarizing fields cause an increased inhibition of activity. Differing from gangliosides, sulfatides bring about a hyperpolarization of the mixed lipid monolayer and external hyperpolarizing or depolarizing fields cause enhanced activation and reduced inhibition, respectively. The effects of glycosphingolipids depend on their relative proportion in the monolayer. Results were similar with dilauroylphosphosphatidylcholine but the field effects were less than half of those found with dilauroylphosphatidic acid. Our work shows that the activity of phospholipase A2 in addition to responding reversibly to external electrostatic fields, is directly modulated by the polarity and magnitude of the lipid polar head group dipole moments.     

Functional Roles of Gangliosides in Neurodevelopment: An Overview of Recent Advances

Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids that are most abundant in the nervous system. They are localized primarily in the outer leaflets of plasma membranes and participated in cell–cell recognition, adhesion, and signal transduction and are integral components of cell surface microdomains or lipid rafts along with proteins, sphingomyelin and cholesterol. Ganglioside-rich lipid rafts play an important role in signaling events affecting neural development and the pathogenesis of certain diseases. Disruption of gangloside synthase genes in mice induces developmental defects and neural degeneration. Targeting ganglioside metabolism may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for intervention in certain diseases. In this review, we focus on recent advances on metabolic and functional studies of gangliosides in normal brain development and in certain neurological disorders.     

Substrate specificity and inhibitor studies of a membrane-bound ganglioside sialidase isolated from human brain tissue

A ganglioside-specific sialidase that controls cellular functions such as growth, differentiation, and adhesion has been observed in a variety of cells, but its characterization proved difficult due to firm membrane attachment and lability of the purified enzyme. Here we report on the specificity toward gangliosides and susceptibility to certain inhibitors of a ganglioside sialidase solubilized and purified 5100-fold from human brain. The sialidase removed terminal sialic acids from gangliosides GM3, GM4, GD3, GD2, GD1 a, GD1 b, GT1 b and GQ1 b, but was inactive toward gangliosides with sialic acid in a branching position (as in GM1 and GM2). Lyso-GM3 and -GD1a were good substrates, too, whereas O-acetylation of the sialic acid as in 9-O-acetyl-GD3 caused strongly reduced cleavage. The new influenza virus drug 4-guanidino-2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Zanamivir) exhibited an IC50 value of about 7 x 10(-5) M that was in the range of the 'classical' sialidase inhibitor 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid; the bacterial sialidase inhibitor 4-nitrophenyloxamic acid, however, was ineffective. The glycosaminoglycans heparan sulfate, heparin, chondroitin sulfates A and B, as well as dextran sulfate and suramin, were all strongly inhibitory, suggesting that glycosaminoglycans present on the cell surface or in the extracellular matrix may influence the ability of the sialidase to alter the ganglioside composition of the membrane.