Sphingolipids are fat-soluble molecules derived from an aminoalcohol with an unsaturated hydrocarbon chain, and are important components of cell membranes. They protect the cell from damage and play a role in cell recognition and signaling. Sphingolipids are absent from mitochondria and are researched in yeast. Sphingolipidosis can occur from a lack or overabundance of sphingolipids, causing neurological disorders such as Gaucher and Fabry disease.
A sphingolipid is a fat-soluble molecule derived from an aminoalcohol with an unsaturated hydrocarbon chain. The fat-soluble molecule is a lipid produced specifically from the 18-carbon sphingosine and is an important component of cell membranes. The aminoalcohol itself is considered aliphatic, meaning it forms a stable ring known as an aromatic.
Sphingolipid is considered a ceramide, which means it is a combination of sphingosine and a fatty acid linked together. Various types of sphingolipids can be created within cells, each of which performs a specific function. Sphingomyelin is found in the cell membrane of the myelin sheath on neurons. Glycosphingolipids are found in the cell membrane of muscle tissue. Gangliosides are a sphingolipid linked to a sugar chain like sialic acid and found in the plasma membrane of a cell.
The main function of a sphingolipid is to protect the surface of a cell from various factors that can cause damage. They form a stable and strong outer shell that reacts both mechanically and chemically to external materials. Depending on the cell, a sphingolipid is central to the cell recognition and signaling process. This occurs when other lipids or proteins are present in nearby cells.
The creation of sphingolipids begins in the endoplasmic reticulum and is completed with the connection with the Golgi apparatus. They are modified during the course by plasma membranes and endosomes. The cytosol finally transports the sphingolipids to the cell membrane. According to the researchers, an interesting fact about sphingolipids is that they are completely absent from the mitochondria.
The main research done on sphingolipid is done on yeast. This is due to the small size of the organism and the access available to its cellular base. Furthermore, yeast cells such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae can easily be replaced by a mammalian cell in the laboratory. This provides researchers with the ability to conduct both lethal and non-lethal experiments on the cell with little or no impact on humans or other animals.
Various ailments can occur in the human body due to both a lack and an overabundance of sphingolipids. These disorders are known as sphingolipidosis and can have very damaging neurological implications. The most common of these disorders is known as Gaucher disease. When Gaucher disease is present, fatty materials stick together in the internal organs, brain and bones. Another major disorder is Fabry disease, which causes fatigue and kidney failure. This usually only occurs in males.
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