A micromethod for the determination of ceramide.

An enzymatic micromethod for the determination of ceramide is presented. The enzyme, E. coli diglyceride kinase was used to phosphorylate ceramide, as well as diglyceride with high specific activity gamma-[32P]ATP, and the two products are differentiated by their alkali stability. This method was applied to the detection of endogenous phospholipases and sphingolipases in several membrane systems and could have wide application.