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Review
. 2009 Apr;50 Suppl(Suppl):S91-6.
doi: 10.1194/jlr.R800080-JLR200. Epub 2008 Nov 17.

Bioactive sphingolipids: metabolism and function

Nana Bartke  1 , Yusuf A Hannun
Affiliations
Review

Bioactive sphingolipids: metabolism and function

Nana Bartke et al. J Lipid Res. 2009 Apr.

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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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Scheme of SL metabolism. Pathways are shown as described in the text. Bioactive SL metabolites are highlighted in red. SPT, serine palmitoyl transferase; KDS, 3-keto-dihydrosphingosine reductase; DES, dihydroceramide desaturase; SPPase, Sph phosphate phosphatase; CK, Cer kinase; C1PP, C1P phosphatase; SMS, SM synthase; PC, phosphatidylcholine; DAG, diacylglycerol; GCS, glucosylceramide synthase; GCase, glucosyl CDase.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Compartmentalization of metabolites and enzymes of the SL pathway. 3KdhSph, 3-keto-dihydrosphingosine; dhSph, dihydrosphingosine; CERT, Cer transfer protein; MAMs, mitochondria associated membranes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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