Enzymatic Synthesis of Sphingosine Bases by the Particulate Fraction of Rat Liver

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that the microsomal preparations from Hansenula ciferri condense palmitoyl-CoA and serine, producing dihydrosphingosine and sphingosine in the presence of NADPH whereas ketodihydrosphingosine and ketosphingosine in the absence of NADPH. The present paper describes experiments which indicate that the enzymatic condensation of palmitoyl-CoA with serine in the particulate fraction of rat liver produces dihydrosphingosine and sphingosine in the presence of NADPH, but ketodihydrosphingosine and sphingosine in the absence of NADPH. The findings suggest that an alternative route, isomerization of ketodihydrosphingosine, may exist in the animal tissue regarding the formation of sphingosine.