Ceramide

Ceramides are a family of waxy lipid molecules. A ceramide has sphingosine and a fatty acid joined by an amide bond. Ceramides are found in high gatherings within the cell membrane of eukaryotic cells, since they are lipids that make up sphingomyelin, one of the major lipids in the lipid bilayer.[1]

Opposite to previous assumptions that ceramides and other sphingolipids found in cell membrane were supporting structural elements, ceramide can participate in a many cellular signalings: likedifferentiation, proliferation, and programmed cell death (PCD) of cells.

History

The word ceramide comes from the Latin cera (wax) and amide. Ceramide is a part of vernix caseosa, the waxy or cheese-like white stuff found coating the skin of newborn human infants.

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Deanna; Kannan, Muthukumar; Wattenberg, Binks (2018-12-01). "Orm/ORMDL proteins: Gate guardians and master regulators". Advances in Biological Regulation. Sphingolipid Signaling in Chronic Disease. 70: 3–18. doi:10.1016/j.jbior.2018.08.002. ISSN 2212-4926. PMC 6251742. PMID 30193828.


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