d20:1

Sphingosines are long-chain base precursors of cellular sphingolipids used directly in the synthesis of ceramide, which in combination with sialic acid forms ganglioside. Sphingosine can exist in four stereoisomers, however only sphingosine occurs naturally. Compared to other sphingolipids throughout the body, which are predominantly composed of C-18 sphingosine, only central nervous system (CNS) gangliosides contain significant amounts of sphingosine. The concentration of sphingosine within mammalian brain gangliosides apparently increases with developmental maturation. Furthermore, the ratio of C-18 to C-20 sphingosine in the brain is thought to be related to some nervous system degeneration processes.

Sphinganine (d20:0) is a natural isomer of dihydro-D-erythro-sphinganine (sphinganine (d18:0); that is a precursor of ceramide and sphingosine as well as a substrate for sphingosine kinases, which generate sphingosine-1-phosphate (d18:1) . In S. cerevisiae, the amount of sphinganine (d20:0) increases 10.8-fold in response to heat stress, indicating it is involved in heat stress adaptation. Sphinganine levels increase significantly in response to certain mycotoxins, including fumonisins as well as in some cancers. Sphinganine can block protein kinase C activation in some cases but not others.

Ganglioside GM1, a monosialylated ganglioside and the prototypical ganglioside, contains a single sialic acid residue. C18 Ganglioside GM1 is predominantly located in the brain, especially in the piriform cortex, amygdala nucleus, striatum, and hippocampal CA1 region. The C18 ganglioside GM1 (d20:1/18:0) to (d18:1/18:0) ratio is reduced in the outer molecular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in Alzheimer's disease patients' postmortem tissue. Since this product is naturally sourced, variations in the sphingoid backbone may occur. [Matreya, LLC.]