Question

Discuss the role of sphingolipids in the biological function of higher level organisms and comment on how lipids and lipid metabolites can act as chemical signaling compounds. Provide examples.

Answer 1

There are three classes of sphingolipids, Ceramides, Sphingomyelin, Glycosphingolipids .

Ceramides are sphingolipids which is an important component in human skin epidermis. Together with other compounds ceramide act as a water impermeable layer that prevent from microbial infections and also from excessive waterloss.

Sphingomyelin is a sphingolipid found in myeline sheath that cover axone

Glycosphingolipids have important role in cell-cell recognition which is essentil especially in immune response. It also help to maintain the cell stability, cells can join to form tissues.

Cerebrocides (found in neurones) and gangliosides (are receptors of hormones) are important glycosphingolipids

Gangliosides have role in RTK activation in cell signalling

ceramide also involved in cellular signalling related to cell proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death etc.