Inhibitors of dihydroceramide desaturase 1: Therapeutic agents and pharmacological tools to decipher the role of dihydroceramides in cell biology

Mireia Casasampere, Yadira F. Ordoñez, Ana Pou, Josefina Casas

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30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dihydroceramide desaturase (Des1) is the last enzyme in the de novo synthesis of ceramides (Cer). It catalyzes the insertion of a double bond into dihydroceramides (dhCer) to convert them to Cer, both of which are further metabolized to more complex (dihydro) sphingolipids. For many years dhCer have received poor attention, mainly due to their supposed lack of biological activity. It was not until about ten years ago that the concept that dhCer might have regulatory roles in biology emerged for the first time. Since then, multiple publications have established that dhCer are implicated in a wide spectrum of biological processes. Physiological and pathophysiological functions of dhCer have been recently reviewed. In this review we will focus on the biochemical features of Des1 and on its inhibition by different compounds with presumably different modes of action.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-44
Number of pages12
JournalChemistry and Physics of Lipids
Volume197
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Autophagy
  • Ceramides
  • Fenretinide
  • Resveratrol

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