title: Plant sphingolipids: function follows form.
abstract: Plant sphingolipids are structurally diverse molecules that are important as membrane components and bioactive molecules. An appreciation of the relationship between structural diversity and functional significance of plant sphingolipids is emerging through characterization of Arabidopsis mutants coupled with advanced analytical methods. It is increasingly apparent that modifications such as hydroxylation and desaturation of the sphingolipid nonpolar long-chain bases and fatty acids influence their metabolic routing to particular complex sphingolipid classes and their functions in signaling pathways and other cellular processes, such as membrane protein targeting. Here, we review recent reports investigating some of the more prevalent sphingolipid structural modifications and their functional importance in plants.
authors.affiliation: Center for Plant Science Innovation and Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Beadle Center, 1901 Vine Street, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.forename: Daniel V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Johnathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Napier
authors.forename: Teresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Edgar B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Cahoon
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002518:Ceramides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006900:Hydroxylation; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D013107:Sphingolipids; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C108138:dihydroceramide desaturase