sphingosine biosynthetic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the formation of sphingosine (sphing-4-enine), trans-D-erytho-2-amino-octadec-4-ene-1,3-diol, a long chain amino diol sphingoid base that occurs in most sphingolipids in animal tissues. [GOC:ma, ISBN:0198506732]

Sphingosine biosynthesis is a crucial metabolic pathway that generates sphingosine, a fundamental component of sphingolipids, a diverse class of lipids with vital roles in cell signaling, membrane structure, and immune function. The process begins with the condensation of palmitoyl-CoA, a long-chain fatty acyl-CoA, with serine, catalyzed by serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT). This reaction forms 3-ketodihydrosphingosine, which is then reduced to dihydrosphingosine by 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase (KDSR). Dihydrosphingosine undergoes desaturation by dihydroceramide desaturase (DES1) to yield sphingosine. This essential building block is then utilized in the synthesis of various sphingolipid species, including ceramides, sphingomyelins, and glycosphingolipids, through distinct pathways involving the attachment of different head groups. Notably, the biosynthesis of ceramide, a central sphingolipid intermediate, involves the condensation of sphingosine with a fatty acid, catalyzed by ceramide synthases. Ceramide can be further modified to produce other sphingolipids, including sphingomyelin, through the addition of phosphocholine, and glycosphingolipids, through the addition of sugars. This complex and intricate process of sphingosine biosynthesis is tightly regulated by various factors, including nutritional status, cellular stress, and hormonal signals, ensuring the precise production of essential sphingolipids that play vital roles in maintaining cellular function and mediating diverse biological processes.'
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Proteins (7)

Compounds (54)