This gene encodes a small glycolipid transport protein which acts as a substrate specific co-factor for the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase A. Beta-hexosaminidase A, together with GM2 ganglioside activator, catalyzes the degradation of the ganglioside GM2, and other molecules containing terminal N-acetyl hexosamines. Mutations in this gene result in GM2-gangliosidosis type AB or the AB variant of Tay-Sachs disease. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2009].
Potprommanee, Ma, Shank, Juan, Liao, Chen, Yu: "GM2-activator protein: a new biomarker for lung cancer." in: Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, Vol. 10, Issue 1, pp. 102-9, (2015) (PubMed).