Sphingolipid management by an orchestra of lipid transfer proteins.
The various membranes in eukaryotic cells have unique lipid compositions. Despite important discoveries in lipid research over recent decades, the basic principles by which cells define their membrane compositions are essentially unknown. Cells must sense the concentration of each lipid, integrate such signals and regulate the activity of their metabolic enzymes and transport routes to dynamically meet their needs in terms of membrane composition. Sphingolipids constitute a lipid category that is essential for eukaryotic life and appears to be key to differences in lipid composition. Here we discuss recent findings that assign an important role to lipid transfer proteins in the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism, organization and function.
Neumann
Sylvia
S
Bijvoet Center/Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, NL-3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Meer
Gerrit
G
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002518:Ceramides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002518:Ceramides; D006017:Glycolipids; D013107:Sphingolipids; C030363:lipid transfer protein