Definition: Cerebrosides which contain as their polar head group a galactose moiety bound in glycosidic linkage to the hydroxyl group of ceramide. Their accumulation in tissue, due to a defect in beta-galactosidase, is the cause of galactosylceramide lipidosis or globoid cell leukodystrophy.
Other names Galactosyl Ceramides; Galactocerebrosides; Ceramides, Galactosyl
KRN 7000 [ KRN 7000, 1S-(1R*,2R*,3S*)-beta-D-galacto isomer,KRN-7000,KRN7000 ] has an alpha-galactosylceramide structure; RN given refers to (1S-(1R*,2R*,3S*)-A-D-GALACTO)-isomer; structure given in first source
