Title: Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling Minireview Series
Abstract:Sphingolipids are a diverse family of phospholipids and glycolipids built upon "sphingoid base" backbones such as (2S,3R,4E)-2-aminooctadec-4-ene-1,3-diol (sphingosine) shown in Fig. 1. The name "sphi...Sphingolipids are a diverse family of phospholipids and glycolipids built upon "sphingoid base" backbones such as (2S,3R,4E)-2-aminooctadec-4-ene-1,3-diol (sphingosine) shown in Fig. 1. The name "sphingosin" was chosen by Thudichum in "commemoration of the many enigmas which it has presented to the inquirer" (1), and many enigmas (including fundamental questions about how and why these compounds are made) persisted for the century following this classic 1884 publication. This minireview series provides an overview of the current understanding of sphingolipid biosynthesis, intracellular transport and turnover, with particular reference to the roles of the lipid backbones in cell regulation and signaling.Read More