SSEA-5 Antigen

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

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

**Synonyms:** - SSEA-5 - SSEA5 - Stage Specific Embryonic Antigen 5 - Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigen 5