C24 Ceramide (d18:1/24:0) (Synonyms: C24 Ceramide)

Production of ceramide occurs upon hydrolysis of sphingomyelin by a specific isoform of PLC, appropriately named sphingomyelinase.[1] C24 Ceramide (d18:1/24:0) is one of the most abundant naturally occurring ceramides. [2][3][4] Ceramides mediate many diverse biological activities, as has been demonstrated in studies utilizing cell-permeable ceramide analogs. A few of the processes regulated by ceramides include apoptosis, cell differentiation, proliferation of smooth muscle cells, and inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.[5][6][7]

Reference:
[1]. Perry, D.K., Obeid, L.M., and Hannun, Y.A. Ceramide and regulation of apoptosis and the stress response. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine 6, 158-162 (1996).
[2]. Gu, Q., Kerwin, J.L., Watts, J.D., et al. Ceramide profiling of complex lipid mixtures by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Anal. Biochem. 244(2), 347-356 (1997).
[3]. Clayton, R.B., Cooper, J.M., Curstedt, T., et al. Stimulation of erythroblast maturation in vitro by sphingolipids. J. Lipid Res. 15(6), 557-562 (1974).
[4]. Krivit, W., and Hammarström, S. Identification and quantitation of free ceramides in human platelets. J. Lipid Res. 13(4), 525-530 (1972).
[5]. Testi, R. Sphingomyelin breakdown and cell fate. Trends Biochem. Sci. 21(12), 468-471 (1996).
[6]. Augé, N., Andrieu, N., Nègre-Salvayre, A., et al. The sphingomyelin-ceramide signaling pathway is involved in oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced cell proliferation. J. Biol. Chem. 271(32), 19251-19255 (1996).
[7]. Gudz, T.I., Tserng, K.Y., and Hoppel, C.L. Direct inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III by cell-permeable ceramide. J. Biol. Chem. 272(39), 24154-24158 (1997).