GangliosideGD3 is synthesized by the addition of two sialic acid residues to lactosylceramide and can serve as a precursor to the formation of more complex gangliosides by the action of glycosyl- and sialyltransferases. It induces apoptosis in HuT-78 cutaneous T cell lymphoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner and disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potential when used at a concentration of 200 μM. Expression of gangliosideGD3 in GD3-negative SK-MEL-28-N1 malignant melanoma cells increases both cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. GangliosideGD3-deficient adult mice exhibit progressive loss of the neural stem cell (NSC) pool and impaired neurogenesis. GangliosideGD3 mixture contains gangliosideGD3 molecular species with C18:1 and C20:1 sphingoid backbones.
(-)-L-threo-PDMP is an enhancer of ganglioside biosynthesis. The (-)-L-threo-PDMP (1S,2S) isomer is the active stimulatory component of DL-threo-PDMP in contrast to (+)-D-threo-PDMP , which is an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthetase. (-)-L-threo-PDMP upregulates GM3, GD3, and GQ1b synthase levels, which are glycosyltransferases involved in ganglioside biosynthesis, and increases ganglioside levels in cells. It increases neurite outgrowth and synapse formation in vitro and improves retention of a long-term memory learned prior to forebrain ischemia in rats when administered following ischemia at a dose of 40 mg/kg per day.