1 Chemistry of Glycosphingolipids. - 1. 1. Introduction. - 1. 2. Isolation of Glycosphingolipids. - 1. 3. Characterization of Glycosphingolipids. - 1. 4. Structure of Glycosphingolipids. - 1. 5. Chemical Synthesis and Modification of Sphingosines and Glycosphingolipids. - 1. 6. Pioneers in Glycolipid Chemistry. - 1. 7. References. - 2 Sphingolipid Metabolism. - 2. 1. Sphingosine Bases. - 2. 2. The Psychosines. - 2. 3. Ceramide (N-Acylsphingosine). - 2. 4. Galactosylceramide. - 2. 5. Ceramide-galactoside-3-sulfate (Sulfatide). - 2. 6. Glucosylceramide. - 2. 7. Ganglioside Metabolism. - 2. 8. Sphingomyelin. - 2. 9. Biosynthesis of the Sphingolipids: Summary. - 3 The Sphingolipidoses. - 3. 1. Farber's Lipogranulomatosis. - 3. 2. Krabbe's Disease (Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy). - 3. 3. Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. - 3. 4. Gaucher's Disease. - 3. 5. Fabry's Disease (Angiokeratoma Corporis Diffusium). - 3. 6. The Gangliosidoses. - 3. 7. Niemann-Pick's Disease. - 3. 8. GM3 Gangliosidosis. - 3. 9. General Comments. - 3. 10. References. - 4 Glycosphingolipids in Cellular Interaction Differentiation and Oncogenesis. - 4. 1. Introduction. - 4. 2. Organization and Dynamic State of Glycohpids in Membranes. - 4. 3. Glycolipids in Cellular Interaction and Differentiation. - 4. 4. Role of Glycolipids in Cell Growth Control. - 4. 5. Glycolipid Changes in Oncogenic Transformation: Deficiency in Glycolipid Function. - 4. 6. Glycolipids as Possible Mediators of Immune Response. - 4. 7. Postscript: Enigmas Concerning Glycohpid Functions. - 4. 8. References. - 5 Glycolipid Antigens and Genetic Markers. - 5. 1. Introduction. - 5. 2. General Properties of Glycolipid Antigens. - 5. 3. Heterophil Antigens. - 5. 4. Glycolipids with Blood Group AB H Specificities. - 5. 5. Glycolipids with Blood Group Lewis (Lea Leb Lec and Led) Specificities. - 5. 6. Glycolipidswith Blood Group P P1 and Pk Specificities. - 5. 7. Glycolipids with Blood Group I and i Specificities. - 5. 8. Glycolipids with Blood Group J-Antigen Specificity. - 5. 9. Tissue-Specific and Tumor-Associated Glycolipid Antigens. - 5. 10. Modification of Blood Group Antigens. - 5. 11. Tissue-Specific or Organ-Specific Glycolipid Antigens. - 5. 12. Glycolipid Antigens Associated with Autoimmune Processes. - 5. 13. References. - 6 Glycosphingolipids as Receptors. - 6. 1. Gangliosides and the Serotonin Receptor. - 6. 2. Gangliosides and Acetylcholine. - 6. 3. Gangliosides and Interferon. - 6. 4. Gangliosides and Bacterial Toxins. - 6. 5. Gangliosides and Lymphocyte Markers. - 6. 6. Gangliosides and Glycoprotein Hormone Receptors. - 6. 7. Conclusions. - 6. 8. References. Language: English