title: Functions and metabolism of sphingolipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: We describe recent advances in understanding sphingolipid functions and metabolism in the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One milestone has been reached in yeast sphingolipid research with the complete or nearly complete identification of genes involved in sphingolipid synthesis and breakdown. Other advances include roles for sphingolipid long-chain bases as signaling molecules that regulate growth, responses to heat stress, cell wall synthesis and repair, endocytosis and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. We touch briefly on other sphingolipid functions so that readers unfamiliar with the field will gain a broader view of sphingolipid research. These functions include roles in protein trafficking/exocytosis, lipid rafts or microdomains, calcium homeostasis, longevity and cellular aging, nutrient uptake, cross-talk with other lipids and the interaction of sphingolipids and antifungal drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and the Lucille Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, USA. bobd@uky.edu
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: Chiranthani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sumanasekera
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lester
mesh_terms: D064413:3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002518:Ceramides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D013107:Sphingolipids; D011494:Protein Kinases; D064413:3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases; C118385:PKH1 protein, S cerevisiae; C118386:PKH2 protein, S cerevisiae; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D013110:Sphingosine