Uses
Galactocerebrosides from bovine brain has been used to find the receptor activity of surface-immobilized galactosylceramide. It has also been used in sulfatide binding assay.
Definition
ChEBI: A D-galactosyl-N-acylsphingosine in which the fatty acyl group contains 18 carbons and 1 double bond.
General Description
A mixture of type?I (containing α-hydroxy fatty acid) and type?II (containing non-hydroxy fatty acid) cerebrosides. Galactocerebroside?(GalCer) is a glycosphingolipid, that consists of a single galactose residue, connected to ceramide . GalCer is present within the exofacial leaflet of the lipid bilayer.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Galactocerebroside?(GalCer) participates in the progression and maintenance of myelin. This oligodendroglial lipid is used as an immunohistochemical tool for studying oligodendrocytes.
