title: Taming the sphinx: Mechanisms of cellular sphingolipid homeostasis.
abstract: Sphingolipids are important structural membrane components of eukaryotic cells, and potent signaling molecules. As such, their levels must be maintained to optimize cellular functions in different cellular membranes. Here, we review the current knowledge of homeostatic sphingolipid regulation. We describe recent studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that have provided insights into how cells sense changes in sphingolipid levels in the plasma membrane and acutely regulate sphingolipid biosynthesis by altering signaling pathways. We also discuss how cellular trafficking has emerged as an important determinant of sphingolipid homeostasis. Finally, we highlight areas where work is still needed to elucidate the mechanisms of sphingolipid regulation and the physiological functions of such regulatory networks, especially in mammalian cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The cellular lipid landscape edited by Tim P. Levine and Anant K. Menon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, United States; Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, United States.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, United States; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, United States; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, United States. Electronic address: robert@hsph.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Farese
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, United States; Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, United States; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States. Electronic address: twalther@hsph.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Walther
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000235:genetics; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013107:Sphingolipids
keywords: Regulation; Sphingolipid; Sphingolipid metabolism