Bioactive Sphingolipids: Metabolism and Function

Overview

Journal J Lipid Res

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2008 Nov 20

PMID 19017611

Citations 306

Authors

Nana Bartke

Yusuf A Hannun

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sphingolipids (SLs) are essential constituents of eukaryotic cells. Besides playing structural roles in cellular membranes, some metabolites, including ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate, have drawn attention as bioactive signaling molecules involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis. Understanding the many cell regulatory functions of SL metabolites requires an advanced knowledge of how and where in the cell they are generated, converted, or degraded. This review will provide a short overview of the metabolism, localization, and compartmentalization of SLs. Also, a discussion on bioactive members of the SL family and inducers of SL enzymes that lead to ceramide generation will be presented.

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