Liu B, Obeid LM, Hannun YA
Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
Semin Cell Dev Biol. 1997 Jun;8(3):311-322. doi: 10.1006/scdb.1997.0153.
Sphingomyelin hydrolysis and ceramide generation have emerged as key events in cellular regulation. Sphingomyelinases (SMases) catalyse the breakdown of sphingomyelin to form ceramide and phosphorylcholine. Ceramide formed through activation of SMases may function as a second messenger in mediating cell growth, differentiation, stress responses, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). So far, five types of SMases have been described and they include the acidic, the acidic zinc-dependent, the neutral magnesium-dependent, the neutral magnesium-independent, and the alkaline SMase. These SMases differ in tissue distribution, cofactor dependence, mechanism for regulation, and involvement in diverse cellular processes. At least two of these sphingomyelinases may regulate the intracellular levels of ceramide and subsequent ceramide-mediated responses. This review will focus on the identification, regulation and roles of SMases in cell function.
鞘磷脂水解和神经酰胺生成已成为细胞调节中的关键事件。鞘磷脂酶（SMases）催化鞘磷脂分解形成神经酰胺和磷酸胆碱。通过激活SMases形成的神经酰胺可能作为第二信使介导细胞生长、分化、应激反应和程序性细胞死亡（凋亡）。到目前为止，已描述了五种类型的SMases，它们包括酸性、酸性锌依赖性、中性镁依赖性、中性镁非依赖性和碱性SMase。这些SMases在组织分布、辅因子依赖性、调节机制以及参与各种细胞过程方面存在差异。这些鞘磷脂酶中至少有两种可能调节细胞内神经酰胺水平及随后的神经酰胺介导的反应。本综述将重点关注SMases在细胞功能中的鉴定、调节及其作用。
