Sphingolipids

Abstract

Sphingolipids are found in all eucaryotic cells, but are especially abundant in the plasma membrane and related cell membranes, such as endoplasmic reticulum, golgi membranes, and lysosomes. They play an important role in maintaining membrane structure, and participate in intracellular signaling1. As receptors and ligands, they are involved in interactions between cells, and cells and matrix; they also serve as a binding site for toxins of bacterial and nonbacterial origin and hormones and viruses, among others2,3.