N-Octadecanoyl-phytosphingosine Reference: M2034-5 Phytosphingosine is a long-chain sphingoid base having important cellular functions such as signaling, cytoskeletal structure, celluar cycle, and heat stress response. It is found largely in mammals, plants, and yeast. Phytosphingosine has seen much use in cosmetics due to its effects on the skin such as reducing inflammation by inhibiting the expression of the allergic cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α and the activation of the transcription factors NF-jB and c-jun in histamine-stimulated skin tissues.1 Phytosphingosine can lead to apoptosis via two distinct pathways and has been investigated as a possible cancer therapeutic treatment.2 Phytoceramides (fatty acid acylated to Phytosphingosine) are distributed at the microvillous membrane of the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Crypt cells and the adjacent epithelial cells produce phytosphingoglycolipids in much greater quantities than more differentiated epithelial cells.3 The kidney and skin also contain phytosphingoglycolipids although in much lower concentrations than in the small intestine. Phytoceramides form part of the water barrier lipids of the skin.
N-Hexadecanoyl-phytosphingosine Reference: M2035-5 Phytosphingosine is a long-chain sphingoid base having important cellular functions such as signaling, cytoskeletal structure, cellular cycle, and heat stress response. It is found largely in mammals, plants, and yeast. Phytosphingosine has seen much use in cosmetics due to its effects on the skin such as reducing inflammation by inhibiting the expression of the allergic cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α and the activation of the transcription factors NF-jB and c-jun in histamine-stimulated skin tissues.1 Phytosphingosine can lead to apoptosis via two distinct pathways and has been investigated as a possible cancer therapeutic treatment. Phytoceramides (fatty acid acylated to Phytosphingosine) are distributed at the microvillous membrane of the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Crypt cells and the adjacent epithelial cells produce phytosphingoglycolipids in much greater quantities than more differentiated epithelial cells.2 The kidney and skin also contain phytosphingoglycolipids although in much lower concentrations than in the small intestine. Phytoceramides form part of the water barrier lipids of the skin. 2-hydroxytetracosanoyl-phytoceramide has recently been shown to have immunostimulating effects in humans.3 Phytoceramides have lately been studied in regards to their role in the central nervous system and have been found to have important functions in neuroprotection.4
N-Tetracosanoyl-phytosphingosine Reference: M2036-5 Phytosphingosine is a long-chain sphingoid base having important cellular functions such as signaling, cytoskeletal structure, celluar cycle, and heat stress response. It is found largely in mammals, plants, and yeast. Phytosphingosine has seen much use in cosmetics due to its effects on the skin such as reducing inflammation by inhibiting the expression of the allergic cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α and the activation of the transcription factors NF-jB and c-jun in histamine-stimulated skin tissues.1 Phytosphingosine can lead to apoptosis via two distinct pathways and has been investigated as a possible cancer therapeutic treatment.2 Phytoceramides are distributed at the microvillous membrane of the epithelial cells of the small intestine. Crypt cells and the adjacent epithelial cells produce phytosphingoglycolipids in much greater quantities than more differentiated epithelial cells.3 The kidney and skin also contain phytosphingoglycolipids although in much lower concentrations than in the small intestine. Phytoceramides form part of the water barrier lipids of the skin.
N-Pentadecanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine Reference: M2037-10 This product is a high purity ceramide containing an uncommon C15:0 fatty acid acylated to sphingosine making it ideal as an internal standard and for biological studies.1 Ceramide is a fatty acid amide of sphingosine. Ceramide functions as a precursor in the synthesis of sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids, and of free sphingosine and fatty acids. The sphingosine can be phosphorylated to form sphingosine-1-phosphate. Two of ceramide’s metabolites, sphingosine-1-phosphate and glucosylceramide, produce cell proliferation and other cellular functions.2 Ceramide exerts numerous biological effects, including induction of cell maturation, cell cycle arrest, terminal cell differentiation, cell senescence, and cell death.3 Because of these effects ceramide has been investigated for its use in cancer treatment and many potential approaches to cancer therapy have been presented.4 Other effects include producing reactive oxygen in mitochondria (followed by apoptosis) and stimulating phosphorylation of certain proteins (especially mitogen activated protein). It also stimulates some protein phosphatases (especially protein phosphatase 2A) making it an important controller of protein activity.
N-Heptadecanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine Reference: M2038-10 This product is a high purity ceramide containing a non-natural C17:0 fatty acid acylated to sphingosine making it ideal as an internal standard and for biological studies. Ceramide is a fatty acid amide of sphingosine. Ceramide functions as a precursor in the synthesis of sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids, and of free sphingosine and fatty acids. The sphingosine can be phosphorylated to form sphingosine-1-phosphate. Two of ceramide’s metabolites, sphingosine-1-phosphate and glucosylceramide, produce cell proliferation and other cellular functions.1 Ceramide exerts numerous biological effects, including induction of cell maturation, cell cycle arrest, terminal cell differentiation, cell senescence, and cell death.2 Because of these effects ceramide has been investigated for its use in cancer treatment and many potential approaches to cancer therapy have been presented.3 Other effects include producing reactive oxygen in mitochondria (followed by apoptosis) and stimulating phosphorylation of certain proteins (especially mitogen activated protein). It also stimulates some protein phosphatases (especially protein phosphatase 2A) making it an important controller of protein activity.
N-Nonadecanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine Reference: M2039-10 This product is a high purity ceramide containing an uncommon C19:0 fatty acid acylated to sphingosine making it ideal as an internal standard and for biological studies.1 Ceramide is a fatty acid amide of sphingosine. Ceramide functions as a precursor in the synthesis of sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids, and of free sphingosine and fatty acids. The sphingosine can be phosphorylated to form sphingosine-1-phosphate. Two of ceramide’s metabolites, sphingosine-1-phosphate and glucosylceramide, produce cell proliferation and other cellular functions.2 Ceramide exerts numerous biological effects, including induction of cell maturation, cell cycle arrest, terminal cell differentiation, cell senescence, and cell death.3 Because of these effects ceramide has been investigated for its use in cancer treatment and many potential approaches to cancer therapy have been presented.4 Other effects include producing reactive oxygen in mitochondria (followed by apoptosis) and stimulating phosphorylation of certain proteins (especially mitogen activated protein). It also stimulates some protein phosphatases (especially protein phosphatase 2A) making it an important controller of protein activity.
N-Octadecanoyl-D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine Reference: M2041-10 This product is a high purity, well-defined dihydroceramide that is ideal as a standard and in biological systems. Dihydroceramide is a critical intermediate in the de novo synthesis of ceramide, leading to many complex sphingolipids. It is synthesized by the acylation of sphinganine and is subsequently converted to ceramide via the enzyme dihydroceramide desaturase or into phytosphingosine via the enzyme C4-hydroxylase.1 Inhibition of ceramide synthase by some fungal toxins (such as fumonisin B1) causes an accumulation of dihydrosphingosine and sphinganine-1-phosphate and a decrease in dihydroceramide and other dihydrosphingolipids, leading to a number of diseases including oesophageal cancer.2 The dihydroceramide desaturase inhibitor N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) has been tested as an anti-cancer agent; It inhibits the dihydroceramide desaturase enzyme in cells resulting in a high concentration of dihydroceramide and dihydrosphingolipids and this is thought to be the cause of its anti-cancer effects.3 Oxidative stress in cells causes an increase in the amount of dihydroceramide by potently inhibiting the desaturase enzyme.4 Dihydroceramide inhibits the formation of channels by ceramides and may thus reduce ceramide induced apoptosis in cells.5 While ceramide is well known for promoting apoptosis, dihydroceramide has long been considered to be inactive. However, there has recently been evidence that an accumulation of dihydroceramide can induce cell cycle arrest.6
N-(R,S)-alpha-Hydroxydodecanoyl-D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine Reference: M2043-5 This product is a high purity alpha-hydroxydihydroceramide and is ideal as a standard and for biological studies. Dihydroceramide is a critical intermediate in the synthesis of many complex sphingoid bases. Inhibition of dihydroceramide synthesis by some fungal toxins that have a similar structure causes an increase in sphinganine and sphinganine-1-phosphate and a decrease in other sphingolipids leading to a number of diseases including oesophageal cancer. Dihydroceramide, synthesized by the acylation of sphinganine, is subsequently converted into ceramide via a desaturase enzyme or into phytosphingosine via the C4-hydrozylase enzyme.1 The presence of a hydroxyl group on the fatty acyl chain of dihydroceramides significantly affects the function and properties of the molecule. While 2(S)-hydroxydihydroceramides can be converted to non-hydroxydihydroceramides in vivo 2(R)-hydroxydihydroceramides cannot. Data presented suggests that 2(R)-hydroxydihydroceramides may interact with some distinct cellular regulatory targets in a specific and more effective manner than their nonhydroxylated analogs.2 2-hydroxydihydroceramides have been shown to be incorporated into the galactosylceramides and sulfatides of the myelin where they are essential to neuronal functions.3
N-(R,S)-alpha-Hydroxyoctadecanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine Reference: M2044-5 Ceramide is a fatty acid amide of sphingosine that has many important biological functions and is the precursor for many complex glycosphingolipids. 2-hydroxy fatty acid ceramides are especially abundant in nervous and epidermal cells. These ceramides are important for the permeability barrier function of the epidermis and lipid organization in membranes. The 2- hydroxylation is catalyzed by fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H or fatty acid alpha-hydroxylase). Ceramide functions as a precursor in the synthesis of sphingomyelin, glycosphingolipids, and of free sphingosine and fatty acids. The sphingosine can be phosphorylated to form sphingosine-1-phosphate. Two of ceramide’s metabolites, sphingosine-1-phosphate and glucosylceramide, produce cell proliferation and have other cellular functions.1 Ceramide exerts numerous biological effects, including induction of cell maturation, cell cycle arrest, terminal cell differentiation, cell senescence, and cell death.2 Because of these effects ceramide has been investigated for its use in cancer treatment and many potential approaches to cancer therapy have been presented.3 Other effects include producing reactive oxygen in mitochondria (followed by apoptosis) and stimulating phosphorylation of certain proteins (especially mitogen activated protein). It also stimulates some protein phosphatases (especially protein phosphatase 2A) making it an important controller of protein activity. Farber disease is an accumulation of ceramides due to a lack of activity of the lysosomal enzyme acid ceramidase.
N-(R,S)-alpha-Hydroxyoctadecanoyl-D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine Reference: M2045-5 This product is a high purity alpha-hydroxydihydroceramide and is ideal as a standard and for biological studies. Dihydroceramide is a critical intermediate in the synthesis of many complex sphingoid bases. Inhibition of dihydroceramide synthesis by some fungal toxins that have a similar structure causes an increase in sphinganine and sphinganine-1-phosphate and a decrease in other sphingolipids leading to a number of diseases including oesophageal cancer. Dihydroceramide, synthesized by the acylation of sphinganine, is subsequently converted into ceramide via a desaturase enzyme or into phytosphingosine via the C4-hydrozylase enzyme.1 The presence of a hydroxyl group on the fatty acyl chain of dihydroceramides significantly affects the function and properties of the molecule. While 2(S)-hydroxydihydroceramides can be converted to non-hydroxydihydroceramides in vivo 2(R)-hydroxydihydroceramides cannot. Data presented suggests that 2(R)-hydroxydihydroceramides may interact with some distinct cellular regulatory targets in a specific and more effective manner than their nonhydroxylated analogs.2 2-hydroxydihydroceramides have been shown to be incorporated into the galactosylceramides and sulfatides of the myelin where they are essential to neuronal functions.3
N-Hexadecanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine-1-phosphate (NH4+salt) Reference: M2046-5 This well-defined ceramide-1-phosphate is ideal as a mass spectrometry standard and for in vivo and in vitro investigations. Ceramide-1-phosphate is one of several important phosphosphingolipids in mammalian cells and it is generated by the phosphorylation of ceramide by the enzyme ceramide kinase. Ceramide-1-phosphate is currently attracting much attention in research due to its important cellular functions like its role in inflammation, as a novel second messenger, and its involvement in cellular processes like phagocytosis, potassium channel function, inflammatory responses, cell survival, and tumorigenesis.1 The first reported biological action of ceramide was its ability to stimulate DNA synthesis and cell division. Ceramide-1-phosphate was also found to be mitogenic for both fibroblasts and macrophages. The mitogenic effect of ceramide-1-phosphate is dependent on its intracellular ability to stimulate reactive oxygen specie production in macrophages via the enzyme NADPH oxidase. This enzyme is downstream of PKC-α and cPLA(2)-α in this pathway.2,3 Another important function of ceramide-1-phophate is its promotion of cell survival. Ceramide-1-phosphate stimulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/protein kinase B (PKB) pathway, a major mechanism whereby growth factors promote cell survival. It is probable that ceramide-1-phosphate blocks apoptosis by stimulating the PI3-K/PKB/NFkappaB pathway and thereby maintaining the production of antiapoptotic Bcl-X(L). Based on these and previous findings it has been proposed that the inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase and the subsequent decrease in ceramide levels would allow cell signaling through stimulation of the PI3-K/PKB pathway to promote cell survival.4
N-(R,S)-alpha-Hydroxyhexadecanoyl-D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine Reference: M2047-5 This product is a high purity alpha-hydroxydihydroceramide and is ideal as a standard and for biological studies. Dihydroceramide is a critical intermediate in the synthesis of many complex sphingoid bases. Inhibition of dihydroceramide synthesis by some fungal toxins that have a similar structure causes an increase in sphinganine and sphinganine-1-phosphate and a decrease in other sphingolipids leading to a number of diseases including oesophageal cancer. Dihydroceramide, synthesized by the acylation of sphinganine, is subsequently converted into ceramide via a desaturase enzyme or into phytosphingosine via the C4-hydrozylase enzyme.1 The presence of a hydroxyl group on the fatty acyl chain of dihydroceramides significantly affects the function and properties of the molecule. While 2(S)-hydroxydihydroceramides can be converted to non-hydroxydihydroceramides in vivo 2(R)-hydroxydihydroceramides cannot. Data presented suggests that 2(R)-hydroxydihydroceramides may interact with some distinct cellular regulatory targets in a specific and more effective manner than their nonhydroxylated analogs.2 2-hydroxydihydroceramides have been shown to be incorporated into the galactosylceramides and sulfatides of the myelin where they are essential to neuronal functions.3