Gangliosides as modulators of neuronal calcium

This chapter describes some recent experiments of the author's laboratory that attempted to explore the connection between neuronal gangliosides and calcium flux. It is believed that these and related findings in other laboratories can explain at least some of the neuronotrophic properties of these molecules, including neuritogenic as well as neuroprotective effects. These studies entailed spectrofluorimetric measurement of Ca²⁺ during manipulation of endogenous or exogenous gangliosides as well as observation of resulting morphological changes. In an attempt to correlate the findings of many laboratories, the principal generality that emerges in regard to ganglioside function is that of protein modulation—encompassing a variety of enzymes, receptors, ion channels, and cell adhesion molecules residing in the plasma membrane. Additionally, the possibility of interaction with intracellular constituents must be considered in view of the occurrence of gangliosides and other glycosphingolipids in certain intracellular organelles.