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Ceramide Synthases: Roles in Cell Physiology and Signaling

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Sphingolipids as Signaling and Regulatory Molecules

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 688))

Abstract

Ceramide synthases (CerS) are integral membrane proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum. Six mammalian CerS have been described, with each utilizing fatty acyl CoAs of relatively defined chain lengths for N-acylation of the sphingoid long chain base. In this chapter, we review the main functional features of the CerS proteins, discuss their fatty acid specificity, kinetics, tissue distribution and mode of inhibition, as well as possible posttranslational modifications. We then address the reason that mammals contain six distinct CerS, whereas most other enzymes in the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway only occur in one or two isoforms. Finally, we discuss the putative roles of CerS and the ceramide derived from the CerS, in signaling pathways and in development of disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Johnny Stiban, Rotem Tidhar & Anthony H. Futerman

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  1. Johnny Stiban
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  2. Rotem Tidhar
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  3. Anthony H. Futerman
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Correspondence to Anthony H. Futerman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Charles Chalfant PhD

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

    Maurizio Del Poeta MD

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Stiban, J., Tidhar, R., Futerman, A.H. (2010). Ceramide Synthases: Roles in Cell Physiology and Signaling. In: Chalfant, C., Poeta, M.D. (eds) Sphingolipids as Signaling and Regulatory Molecules. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 688. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6741-1_4

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