Gangliotetraose

Taking advantage of the known biochemistry of ganglioside biosynthesis and degradation, we explored the potential for enhancing GM1 levels in the brain by intracranial administration of VCS sialidase, which cleaves the glycosidic linkages between terminal sialic acids of complex gangliotetraose gangliosides GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b, and GQ1b to yield increased levels of GM1 and the potential for this enzyme to exert a neuroprotective effect in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinsonism.