CERT-Dependent Ceramide Transport, A Crucial Process in Cells

Abstract

In mammalian cells, ceramides are central lipids in sphingolipid metabolism and serve both as signaling lipids and as precursors for other bioactive sphingolipids, ranging from complex glycosphingolipids to “simpler” lipids such as ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingomyelin (SM), sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Ceramides are largely distributed in cell membranes where they play an important structural role. In addition, ceramides play also key roles in intracellular signaling, and regulate growth, proliferation, cell migration, apoptosis, and differentiation [1].