Ganglioside GD3 is synthesized by the addition of two sialic acid residues to lactosylceramide and can serve as a precursor to the formation of more complex gangliosides by the action of glycosyl- and sialyltransferases.{31218} It induces apoptosis in HuT-78 cutaneous T cell lymphoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner and disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potential when used at a concentration of 200 ?M.{5033} Expression of ganglioside GD3 in GD3-negative SK-MEL-28-N1 malignant melanoma cells increases both cell proliferation and invasion in vitro.{28470} Ganglioside GD3-deficient adult mice exhibit progressive loss of the neural stem cell (NSC) pool and impaired neurogenesis.{37782} This product contains ganglioside GD3 molecular species with with primarily C18:0 fatty acyl chain lengths. As this product is derived from a natural source, there may be variations in the sphingoid backbone.