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Review
. 2023 Nov 21:11:1302472.
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1302472. eCollection 2023.

Sphingolipids in mitochondria-from function to disease

Maryam Jamil  1   2 , Lauren Ashley Cowart  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Sphingolipids in mitochondria-from function to disease

Maryam Jamil et al. Front Cell Dev Biol. .

Abstract

Sphingolipids are not only structural components of cellular membranes but also play vital roles in cell signaling and modulation of cellular processes. Within mitochondria, sphingolipids exert diverse effects on mitochondrial dynamics, energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and cell death pathways. In this review, we summarize literature addressing the crucial role of sphingolipids in mitochondria, highlighting their impact on mitochondrial dynamics, cellular bioenergetics, and important cell processes including apoptosis and mitophagy.

Keywords: NAFLD; S1P; cancer; ceramide; mitochondria; sphingolipids.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Sphingolipid de novo synthesis pathway. Sphingolipid synthesis starts with the condensation of an amino group with Acyl-CoA, leading to the formation of 3 Keto-dihydrosphingosine which is ultimately converted into dihydroceramide (DHS). Dihydroceramide is subsequently desaturated to ceramide, a central molecule in sphingolipid metabolism. Ceramide serves as a precursor for various sphingolipids, including sphingomyelin, Ceramide-1-phosphate, glucosylceramides, and sphingosine, through the addition of different headgroups.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Roles of Ceramide and S1P in mitochondria. Diagram illustrating the mechanisms by which ceramide and S1P alter mitochondrial biology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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