SSEA-3 Antigen

**Semantic type:** Immunologic Factor|Organic Chemical

**Definition:** A ganglioside comprised of a glycosphingolipid (GSL) containing five carbohydrate units bound to ceramide. This epitope is expressed on the surface of human embryonic stem cells and human embryonic germ cells. Its expression is turned off once these cells differentiate during development. Reactivation of expression is found on the surface of human teratocarcinoma stem cells.

**Synonyms:** - GL-5 - Glycolipid GB5 - SSEA-3 - SSEA3 - Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen 3 - Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen 3