Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids that contain the structure of a ceramide plus carbohydrate moieties. Sialic acid is a part of the carbohydrate component. Gangliosides differ from cerebrosides in containing sialic acid, whereas the latter contain no sialic acid.

Gangliosides are receptors for specific agents, such as cholera toxin and influenza virus. Cholera toxin binds to ganglioside GM1, whereas influenza virus recognizes the sialic acid portion of certain gangliosides. The influenza virus then cleaves the gangliosides as part of its entry process into cells.

Some gangliosides promote the growth of neural tissue in cell culture, suggesting they might be used to promote regeneration of nerve tissue after spinal cord injury.