sphinganine biosynthetic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the formation of sphinganine, D-erythro-2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol. [GOC:ai]

The sphinganine biosynthetic process, also known as de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis, is a crucial metabolic pathway that produces sphinganine, the precursor for all sphingolipids. Sphingolipids are a diverse class of lipids essential for cellular function, playing critical roles in membrane structure, signal transduction, and cell recognition.

The process begins with the condensation of palmitoyl-CoA, a 16-carbon fatty acid, and serine. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), which forms 3-ketodihydrosphingosine.

Next, 3-ketodihydrosphingosine is reduced to dihydrosphingosine by the enzyme 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase. This step requires NADPH as a cofactor.

Finally, dihydrosphingosine is desaturated to sphinganine by the enzyme dihydroceramide desaturase, also known as sphinganine-1-deoxysphinganine desaturase. This reaction introduces a double bond into the sphinganine molecule.

The resulting sphinganine can then be further modified through various reactions to form a wide variety of sphingolipids, including ceramide, sphingomyelin, and glycosphingolipids. These lipids play diverse roles in cellular processes, including:

* **Membrane structure:** Sphingolipids are major components of cell membranes, contributing to their structural integrity and fluidity.
* **Signal transduction:** Sphingolipids act as second messengers in various signaling pathways, regulating cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
* **Cell recognition:** Glycosphingolipids, which contain sugar moieties, are involved in cell-cell interactions and recognition processes.
* **Immune function:** Sphingolipids are important for immune cell function, contributing to the activation and regulation of immune responses.

The sphinganine biosynthetic process is tightly regulated to maintain the appropriate balance of sphingolipids in the cell. Disruptions in this pathway can lead to various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and metabolic diseases. Understanding this pathway is crucial for developing new therapies targeting these diseases.'
"

Proteins (2)

Compounds (1)