Metabolism and function of sphingolipids in saccharomyces cerevisiae: Relevance to cancer research

Over the last two decades, sphingolipids have emerged as important cell regulators. Included in this lipid class are the lipid mediator sphingosine, its phosphorylated derivative sphingosine-1-phosphate, and ceramide. In humans, the major known functions of sphingolipid-mediated cell regulation is the modulation of signaling pathways which control fundamental cellular processes including cell division, senescence, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and differentiation [40, 41, 74], all of direct relevance to cancer pathogenesis and progression. Because of these myriad activities, the enzymes that generate sphingolipid mediators are potential targets for cancer treatment. Thus, characterization of these enzymes with respect to activity, regulation, localization, and cellular function is fundamental to developing strategies for modulating sphingolipid levels in vivo. The yeast system has emerged as an invaluable tool for the identification, cloning, and characterization of enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism. Furthermore, insights gained from yeast studies of sphingolipid metabolism and function continue to push the forefront of sphingolipid research, especially since the roles of sphingolipids in stress and other cell responses appear to be conserved from yeast to human.