Do We Really Need Glycosphingolipids?

Abstract

Some questions are discussed. Can an organism live without any glycosphingolipids(GSLs)? If it can, how? What tests are needed to prove that an organism contains little or no GSLs? Does lack of reaction with antibodies prove that the lipid is absent? Does lack of incorporation of labeled precursors show that the lipid substrates are really absent? Are most of the GSLs in a cell unnecessary for normal, minimal functioning? Perhaps these questions will encourage glycobiology researchers to investigate some new approaches.