Alpha-Galactosylceramide
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| Names | |
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IUPAC name
N-[(2S,3S,4R)-1-(α-D-Galactopyranosyloxy)-3,4-dihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl]hexacosanamide
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Systematic IUPAC name
N-[(2S,3S,4R)-3,4-Dihydroxy-1-{[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy}octadecan-2-yl]hexacosanamide | |
| Other names
α-GalCer, KRN7000
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| Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol)
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| 7326597 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
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PubChem CID
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| UNII | |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| C50H99NO9 | |
| Molar mass | 858.340 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | White powder |
| Melting point | 189–190 °C (372–374 °F; 462–463 K) |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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alpha-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer, KRN7000) is a synthetic glycolipid derived from structure-activity relationship studies of galactosylceramides isolated from the marine sponge Agelas mauritianus. α-GalCer is a strong immunostimulant and shows potent anti-tumour activity in many in vivo models.
Immunostimulatory properties
α-GalCer is a potent activator of iNKT cells, and a model CD1d antigen. The invariant T cell receptor of the iNKT cell is able to bind the CD1d:glycolipid complex leading to iNKT cell activation in both mice and humans.
Adjuvant activity
In combination with a peptide antigen, α-GalCer is able to stimulate a strong immune response against the epitope. The CD1d:glycolipid:TCR interaction activates the iNKT cell which can then activate the dendritic cell. This causes the release of a range of cytokines and licenses the dendritic cell to activate a peptide-specific T cell response. This adjuvant acts through this cellular interaction, rather than through classic pattern recognition receptor pathways.