title: Do longevity assurance genes containing Hox domains regulate cell development via ceramide synthesis?
abstract: A gene family containing a longevity assurance gene (Lag1p) motif is described. Database searches revealed >40 members of this family of transmembrane proteins, two of which have recently been shown to regulate the synthesis of ceramide, a lipid second messenger involved in a variety of cellular processes. We speculate that other family members, some of which contain a Hox domain, may also be involved in the synthesis of specific ceramide pools, perhaps explaining the role of longevity assurance genes in regulating development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Krishnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Futerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002518:Ceramides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides