| sphingosine | <biochemistry> Long chain amino alcohol that bears an approximate similarity to glycerol with a hydrophobic chain attached to the 3 carbon. Forms the class of sphingolipids when it carries an acyl group joined by an amide link to the nitrogen. Forms sphingomyelin when phosphoryl choline is attached to the 1 hydroxyl group. Gives rise to the cerebroside and ganglioside classes of glycolipids when oligosaccharides are attached to the 1 hydroxyl group. Not found in the free form. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| sphingosine CoA-independent transacetylase | <enzyme> Transfers the acetate group from platelet-activating factor (paf) to sphingosine forming n-acetylsphingosine (c2-ceramide) Registry number: EC 2.3.1.- Synonym: platelet-activating factor-sphingosine transacetylase, paf-sphingosine transacetylase, paf-sph transacetylase (26 Jun 1999) |
| sphingosine N-methyltransferase | <enzyme> Converts sphingosine to n,n-dimethylsphingosine Registry number: EC 2.1.1.- (26 Jun 1999) |