Synthesis of Photoactivatable and Paramagnetic Gangliosides.

For the physicochemical studies aimed at elucidating the dynamic of gangliosides in membranes and their interaction with proteins and membrane lipids, photoactivatable and paramagnetic ganglioside derivatives have proved to be invaluable tools. Here, protocols for the synthesis of such ganglioside derivatives are described. These derivatives bear in their ceramide portion either a highly photoreactive (3-trifluoromethyl)phenyldiazirinyl- or a spin active doxyl-labeled acyl chain in place of their natural acyl chain.