A selective inhibitor Gal-PUGNAc of human lysosomal beta-hexosaminidases modulates levels of the ganglioside GM2 in neuroblastoma cells.

Gal-PUGNAc (see picture), a highly selective inhibitor for beta-hexosaminidases HEXA and HEXB is cell-permeable and modulates the activity of HEXA and HEXB in tissue culture, increasing ganglioside GM2 levels. Gal-PUGNAc should allow the role of these enzymes to be studied at the cellular level without generating a complex chemical phenotype from concomitant inhibition of O-GlcNAcase.