title: Fumonisins: fungal toxins that shed light on sphingolipid function.
abstract: Fumonisins are sphinganine analogues produced by Fusarium moniliforme and related fungi. They inhibit ceramide synthase and block the biosynthesis o f complex sphingolipids, promoting accumulation o f sphinganine and sphinganine 1 phosphate. Disruption o f sphingolipid metabolism by fumonisin B(1) alters cell-cell interactions, the behaviour o f cell-surface proteins, the activity o f protein kinases, the metabolism of other lipids, and cell growth and viability. This multitude of effects probably accounts for the toxicity and carcinogenicity of these mycotoxins. Naturally occurring inhibitors o f sphingolipid metabolism such as fumonisins are proving to be powerful tools for studying the diverse roles of sphingolipids in cell regulation and disease.
authors.affiliation: US Dept of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Toxicology and Mycotoxins Research Unit, Athens, GA 30613, USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Riley