Application Notes:
Ceramide is a fatty acid amide of sphingosine. This product is a well-defined ceramide with a tetracosenoyl (nervonyl) acyl
group. 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 while ceramides with longer side chains will enter cells if dissolved in dodecane-isopropanol. Nervonic acid has been
found to be important in the biosynthesis of nerve cell myelin and is found in sphingolipids of white matter. There is a
marked reduction in the level of nervonic acid in sphingolipids in diseases involving demyelinateion, such as
adrenoleukodystropy and multiple sclerosis.4
References:
1. J. Hauser, B. Buehrer, and R. Bell “Role of ceramide in mitogenesis induced by exogenous sphingoid bases.” Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 269
pp. 6803, 1994
2. N. Radin, “Killing tumours by ceramide-induced apoptosis: a critique of available drugs” Biochemical Journal, Vol. 371 pp. 243-256, 2003
3. N. Radin, “Designing anticancer drugs via the achilles heel: ceramide, allylic ketones, and mitochondria” Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, Vol.
11(10) pp. 2123-2142, 2003
4. C. Cook et al. “Effects of feeding Lunaria oil rich in nervonic and erucic acids on the fatty acid compositions of sphingomyelins from erythrocytes, liver,
and brain of the quaking mouse mutant” Lipids, Vol. 33 pp. 993, 1998