Sphingolipids and Signal Transduction

Abstract

Sphingolipids that are ubiquitous constituents of membrane lipids in mammalian cells are essential for cell growth. Various sphingolipids have been implicated to function as modulators in signaling pathways. Recently, regulated hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to generate ceramide was suggested to play bifurcate roles in cellular response to tumor-necrosis factor. Another novel aspect of sphingolipid research is also arising in terms of membrane microdomains.