Sphingolipid

Sphingolipids are a class of lipids containing the backbone of long-chain amino-alcohol bases in their structure, which are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Modification of this base gives rise to a variety of such lipids ranging from simple to complex sphingolipids that play a significant structural and functional role in membrane biology as well as regulate various cellular processes. Sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine and phytosphingosine are nature's most frequently occurring bases. Ceramides are the simplest sphingolipids after the backbone. These fatty acids are amide-linked derivatives of sphingoid bases and central intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism. Ceramides perform various biological functions and constitute the hydrophobic backbone of all complex sphingolipids. The best-characterized sphingolipids in fungi and yeast are glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which could be categorized into two groups, neutral GSLs (glucosyl and galactosylceramide) and acidic GSLs, (glycosylinositol-phosphorylceramides). Due to the several important functions of sphingolipids in cell biology, it is crucial to understand the regulation and metabolism of sphingolipids. Despite the diversity of structure and function of sphingolipids, their synthesis and degradation are governed by common synthetic and catabolic pathways. In recent years, significant progress in the field of sphingolipids has been made. Recent developments in sphingolipid biology, including the construction of analytical and genetic tools and the development of computer visualization techniques for sphingolipids analysis, have highlighted the role of sphingolipids in developing anticancer and antifungal therapeutics. Recent advances in sphingolipid biology continue to provoke and inspire vigorous investigations in sphingolipidology