- Ceramidase
-
Ceramidase is an enzyme which cleaves fatty acids from ceramide, producing sphingosine (SPH) which in turn is phosphorylated by a sphingosine kinase to form sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P).[1]
Contents
Function
Ceramide, SPH, and S1P are bioactive lipids that mediate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, adhesion, and migration. Presently, 7 human ceramidases encoded by 7 distinct genes have been cloned:[1]
- acid ceramidase (ASAH1) – cell survival
- neutral ceramidase (ASAH2, ASAH2B, ASAH2C) – protective against inflammatory cytokines
- alkaline ceramidase 1 (ACER1) – mediating cell differentiation by controlling the generation of SPH and S1P
- alkaline ceramidase 2 (ACER2) – important for cell proliferation and survival
- alkaline ceramidase 3 (ACER3)
Clinical significance
A deficiency in ASAH1 is associated with Farber disease.
References
- ^ a b Mao C, Obeid LM (September 2008). "Ceramidases: regulators of cellular responses mediated by ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate". Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1781 (9): 424–34. doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.06.002. PMC 2614331. PMID 18619555. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2614331.
External links
Hydrolases: carbon-nitrogen non-peptide (EC 3.5) 3.5.1: Linear amides /
AmidohydrolasesAsparaginase · Glutaminase · Urease · Biotinidase · Aspartoacylase · Ceramidase · Aspartylglucosaminidase · Fatty acid amide hydrolase · Histone deacetylase (Sirtuin)3.5.2: Cyclic amides/
Amidohydrolases3.5.3: Linear amidines/
Ureohydrolases3.5.4: Cyclic amidines/
Aminohydrolases3.5.5: Nitriles/
Aminohydrolases3.5.99: Other B enzm: 1.1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/10/11/13/14/15-18, 2.1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8, 2.7.10, 2.7.11-12, 3.1/2/3/4/5/6/7, 3.1.3.48, 3.4.21/22/23/24, 4.1/2/3/4/5/6, 5.1/2/3/4/99, 6.1-3/4/5-6 This hydrolase article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.