The molecule is a branched amino pentasaccharide consisting of a linear sequence of two alpha-sialyl residues, a beta-D-galactosyl residue and an N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine residue linked respectively (2->8), (2->8) and (1->4), to the galactosyl residue of which is also linked (1->4) an N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl residue. It is the carbohydrate portion of ganglioside GD2. It is an amino pentasaccharide, an amino oligosaccharide and a beta-D-GalNAc-(1->4)-[alpha-Neu5Ac-(2->8)-alpha-Neu5Ac-(2->3)]-beta-D-Gal-(1->4)-D-Glc.
(2S,4S,5R,6R)-5-acetamido-6-[(1S,2R)-2-[(2S,4S,5R,6R)-5-acetamido-2-carboxy-4-hydroxy-6-[(1R,2R)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3-dihydroxypropyl]-2-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6R)-3-acetamido-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6R)-4,5,6-trihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxyoxan-4-yl]oxy-4-hydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid