Sphingosine
Sphingosine
Sphingosine (/sfɪŋˈɡoʊsiːn/) is an amino alcohol that forms a primary part of sphingolipids, a class of cell membrane lipids that include sphingomyelin, an important phospholipid.
Etymology
The term "sphingosine" was coined from the mythological creature Sphinx due to its enigmatic nature. It was first isolated by German chemist Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Thudichum in the brain in 1874.
Structure and Properties
Sphingosine is an 18-carbon amino alcohol with an unsaturated hydrocarbon chain, which forms a primary part of sphingolipids, a class of cell membrane lipids that include sphingomyelin, an important phospholipid. The structure of sphingosine is distinctive and unlike glycerol-based phospholipids or glycolipids.
Biological Role
Sphingosine plays a crucial role in signal transduction and cell recognition. It can be converted into ceramides and other sphingolipids in the cell. Sphingolipids are found in high abundance in the membranes of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, and have been implicated in various biological processes, including signal transmission and cell recognition.
Related Terms
- Sphingolipids
- Sphingomyelin
- Ceramides
- Signal transduction
- Cell recognition
- Amino alcohol
- Phospholipid
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sphingosine
- Wikipedia's article - Sphingosine
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