The molecule is an amino trisaccharide that is the carbohydrate portion of ganglioside GM3. It comprises a linear sequence of alpha-N-acetylneuraminyl, beta-D-galactosyl and beta-D-glucose residues linked (2->3) and (1->4). It has a role as an epitope and a mammalian metabolite.
(2S,4S,5R,6R)-5-acetamido-2-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6R)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxyoxan-4-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-[(1R,2R)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl]oxane-2-carboxylic acid