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Abstract
Sphingolipids are essential molecules that, despite their long history, are still stimulating interest today. The reasons for this are that, as well as playing structural roles within cell membranes, they have also been shown to perform a myriad of cell signalling functions vital to the correct function of eukaryotic and
prokaryotic organisms. Indeed, sphingolipid disregulation that alters the tightly-controlled balance of these key lipids has been closely linked to a number of d
iseases such as diabetes, asthma and variousneuropathologies. Sphingolipid biogenesis, metabolism and regulation is mediated by a large number of
enzymes, proteins and second messengers. There appears to be a core pathway common to all sphingolipid-producing organisms but recent studies
have begun to dissect out important, species-specificdifferences. Many of these have only recently been discovered and in most cases the molecular and
biochemical details are only beginning to emerge. Where there is a direct link from classic biochemistry to clinical symptoms, a number a drug companies haveundertaken a medicinal chemistry campaign to try to deliver a therapeutic intervention to alleviate a number of diseases. Where appropriate, we highlight targets where natural products have been exploited as useful tools. Taking all these aspects into account this review covers the structural, mechanistic and regulatory features of sphingolipid biosynthetic and metabolic enzymes.
prokaryotic organisms. Indeed, sphingolipid disregulation that alters the tightly-controlled balance of these key lipids has been closely linked to a number of d
iseases such as diabetes, asthma and variousneuropathologies. Sphingolipid biogenesis, metabolism and regulation is mediated by a large number of
enzymes, proteins and second messengers. There appears to be a core pathway common to all sphingolipid-producing organisms but recent studies
have begun to dissect out important, species-specificdifferences. Many of these have only recently been discovered and in most cases the molecular and
biochemical details are only beginning to emerge. Where there is a direct link from classic biochemistry to clinical symptoms, a number a drug companies haveundertaken a medicinal chemistry campaign to try to deliver a therapeutic intervention to alleviate a number of diseases. Where appropriate, we highlight targets where natural products have been exploited as useful tools. Taking all these aspects into account this review covers the structural, mechanistic and regulatory features of sphingolipid biosynthetic and metabolic enzymes.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Natural product reports |
Early online date | 4 Jun 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 4 Jun 2018 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Sphingolipid biosynthesis in man and microbes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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The human serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) complex; specificity, structure, regulation and inhibition.
30/01/15 → 29/01/18
Project: Research