Production of ceramide occurs upon hydrolysis of sphingomyelin by a specific isoform of PLC, appropriately named sphingomyelinase.1 Lignoceric ceramide (C24:0) is one of the most abundant naturally occurring ceramides.2,3,4 Ceramides mediate many diverse biological activities, as has been demonstrated in studies utilizing cell-permeable ceramide analogs. A few of the processes regulated by ceramides include apoptosis, cell differentiation,5 proliferation of smooth muscle cells,6 and inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.7
1
Perry, D.K., Obeid, L.M., and Hannun, Y.A. Ceramide and regulation of apoptosis and the stress response. Trends Cardiovasc Med6158-162(1996).
2
Gu, Q., Kerwin, J.L., Watts, J.D., et al. Ceramide profiling of complex lipid mixtures by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem244347-356(1997).
3
Clayton, R.B., Cooper, J.M., Curstedt, T., et al. Stimulation of erythroblast maturation in vitro by sphingolipids. J Lipid Res15557-562(1974).
4
Krivit, W., and Hammarström, S. Identification and quantitation of free ceramides in human platelets. J Lipid Res13525-530(1972).
5
Testi, R. Sphingomyelin breakdown and cell fate. Trends Biochem Sci21468-471(1996).
6
Augé, N., Andrieu, N., Nègre-Salvayre, A., et al. The sphingomyelin-ceramide signaling pathway is involved in oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced cell proliferation. J Biol Chem27119251-19255(1996).
7
Gudz, T.I., Tserng, K., and Hoppel, C.L. Direct inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III by cell-permeable ceramide. J Biol Chem27224154-24158(1997).
Perry, D.K., Obeid, L.M., and Hannun, Y.A. Ceramide and regulation of apoptosis and the stress response. Trends Cardiovasc Med6158-162(1996).
Testi, R. Sphingomyelin breakdown and cell fate. Trends Biochem Sci21468-471(1996).
Augé, N., Andrieu, N., Nègre-Salvayre, A., et al. The sphingomyelin-ceramide signaling pathway is involved in oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced cell proliferation. J Biol Chem27119251-19255(1996).
Gu, Q., Kerwin, J.L., Watts, J.D., et al. Ceramide profiling of complex lipid mixtures by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem244347-356(1997).
Gudz, T.I., Tserng, K., and Hoppel, C.L. Direct inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III by cell-permeable ceramide. J Biol Chem27224154-24158(1997).
Clayton, R.B., Cooper, J.M., Curstedt, T., et al. Stimulation of erythroblast maturation in vitro by sphingolipids. J Lipid Res15557-562(1974).
Krivit, W., and Hammarström, S. Identification and quantitation of free ceramides in human platelets. J Lipid Res13525-530(1972).