Application Notes:
Ceramide is a fatty acid amide of sphingosine. This product contains ceramides with mostly 2-hydroxy fatty acids (alphahydroxy
fatty acids). 2-hydroxy fatty acid ceramides are especially abundant in nervous and epidermal cells. These ceramides
are important for the permeability barrier function of epidermis and the 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 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. Ceramides with short
side chains have been shown to enter easily into cells where they are biologically active. Ceramides with longer side chains
also enter cells if dissolved in dodecane-isopropanol first.
References:
1. J. M. Hauser, B. M. Buehrer, and R. M. Bell, Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 269 pp. 6803, 1994
2. N. S. Radin, Biochemical Journal, Vol. 371 pp. 243-256, 2003
3. N. S. Radin, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 11(10) pp. 2123-2142, 2003
4. Midori Yano, Etsu Kishida, Yuka Muneyuki, and Yasuo Masuzawa, Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 39 pp. 2091-2098, 1998