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Ceramide‐rich platforms in transmembrane signaling
Author(s) -
Stancevic Branka,
Kolesnick Richard
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.02.026
Subject(s) - ceramide , sphingomyelin , lipid signaling , microbiology and biotechnology , transmembrane protein , signal transduction , acid sphingomyelinase , sphingolipid , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , membrane , receptor , apoptosis
Recent evidence suggests that ceramide regulates stress signaling via reorganization of the plasma membrane. The focus of this review will be to discuss the mechanism by which acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase)‐generated ceramide initiates transmembrane signaling in the plasma membrane exoplasmic leaflet. In particular, we review the unique biophysical properties of ceramide that render it proficient in formation of signaling domains termed ceramide‐rich platforms (CRPs), and the role of CRPs in the pathophysiology of various diseases. The biomedical significance of CRPs makes these structures an attractive therapeutic target.