Sphingolipids and their metabolism in physiology and disease

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Studies of bioactive lipids in general and sphingolipids in particular have intensified over the past several years, revealing an unprecedented and unanticipated complexity of the lipidome and its many functions, which rivals, if not exceeds, that of the genome or proteome. These results highlight critical roles for bioactive sphingolipids in most, if not all, major cell biological responses, including all major cell signalling pathways, and they link sphingolipid metabolism to key human diseases. Nevertheless, the fairly nascent field of bioactive sphingolipids still faces challenges in its biochemical and molecular underpinnings, including defining the molecular mechanisms of pathway and enzyme regulation, the study of lipid-protein interactions and the development of cellular probes, suitable biomarkers and therapeutic approaches.

Related collections

Most cited references 156

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

The outs and the ins of sphingosine-1-phosphate in immunity.

Sarah Spiegel, Sheldon Milstien (2011)

The potent lipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is produced inside cells by two closely related kinases, sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and SPHK2, and has emerged as a crucial regulator of immunity. Many of the actions of S1P in innate and adaptive immunity are mediated by its binding to five G protein-coupled receptors, designated S1PR1-5, but recent findings have also identified important roles for S1P as a second messenger during inflammation. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the roles of S1P receptors and describe the newly identified intracellular targets of S1P that are crucial for immune responses. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of new drugs that target S1P signalling and functions.

0 comments Cited 285 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

ERM proteins and merlin: integrators at the cell cortex.

Anthony Bretscher, Kevin Edwards, Richard Fehon (2002)

A fundamental property of many plasma-membrane proteins is their association with the underlying cytoskeleton to determine cell shape, and to participate in adhesion, motility and other plasma-membrane processes, including endocytosis and exocytosis. The ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins are crucial components that provide a regulated linkage between membrane proteins and the cortical cytoskeleton, and also participate in signal-transduction pathways. The closely related tumour suppressor merlin shares many properties with ERM proteins, yet also provides a distinct and essential function.

0 comments Cited 283 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Programmed cell death induced by ceramide.

L Obeid, C. Linardic, L Karolak … (1993)

Sphingomyelin hydrolysis and ceramide generation have been implicated in a signal transduction pathway that mediates the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and other agents on cell growth and differentiation. In many leukemic cells, TNF-alpha causes DNA fragmentation, which leads to programmed cell death (apoptosis). C2-ceramide (0.6 to 5 microM), a synthetic cell-permeable ceramide analog, induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which was inhibited by zinc ion. Other amphiphilic lipids failed to induce apoptosis. The closely related C2-dihydroceramide was also ineffective, which suggests a critical role for the sphingolipid double bond. The effects of C2-ceramide on DNA fragmentation were prevented by the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which suggests the existence of two opposing intracellular pathways in the regulation of apoptosis.