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New advances on structural and biological functions of ceramide in apoptotic/necrotic cell death and cancer
Author(s) -
Mimeault Murielle
Publication year - 2002
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/s0014-5793(02)03432-4
Subject(s) - ceramide , programmed cell death , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , mitochondrion , lipid signaling , biology , signal transduction , sphingolipid , cancer cell , caspase , cell , cancer , biochemistry , enzyme , genetics
Recent data on the cellular ceramide functions and its involvement in the apoptotic/necrotic cell death as well as its anticarcinogenic properties are presented. The emphasis is on the connections between the ceramide and caspase signaling pathways during the apoptotic cell death process. Notably, the experimental strategies and pharmacological tools used for establishment of the role of ceramide in triggering cell death are described. Moreover, the importance of a compartmentation of endogenous ceramide within the plasma membrane microdomains, lysosomes and mitochondria is discussed. Information on the deregulated functions of ceramide and caspase signaling pathways in several metastatic cancer types is also presented.