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The metabolism and function of sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids

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Abstract.

Sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids are emerging as major players in many facets of cell physiology and pathophysiology. We now present an overview of sphingolipid biochemistry and physiology, followed by a brief presentation of recent advances in translational research related to sphingolipids. In discussing sphingolipid biochemistry, we focus on the structure of sphingolipids, and their biosynthetic pathways – the recent identification of most of the enzymes in this pathway has led to significant advances and better characterization of a number of the biosynthetic steps, and the relationship between them. We then discuss some roles of sphingolipids in cell physiology, particularly those of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate, and mention current views about how these lipids act in signal transduction pathways. We end with a discussion of sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids in the etiology and pathology of a number of diseases, such as cancer, immunity, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, diabetes, and sepsis, areas in which sphingolipids are beginning to take a central position, even though many of the details remain to be elucidated.

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Correspondence to A. H. Futerman.

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Received 13 February 2007; received after revision 19 April 2007; accepted 26 April 2007

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Lahiri, S., Futerman, A.H. The metabolism and function of sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 64, 2270–2284 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7076-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-007-7076-0

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