The role of glycosphingolipid metabolism in the developing brain

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are amphipathic lipids ubiquitously expressed in all vertebrate cells and body fluids, but they are especially abundant in the nervous system. The synthesis of GSLs generally is initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum and completed in the Golgi apparatus, followed by transpo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of lipid research 2009-04, Vol.50 (Suppl), p.S440-S445
Main Authors: Yu, Robert K., Nakatani, Yoshihiko, Yanagisawa, Makoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brain - embryology
Brain - growth & development
Brain - metabolism
Brain Chemistry
brain function
Disease
ganglioside
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
glycogene
Glycosphingolipids - chemistry
Glycosphingolipids - metabolism
Humans
Lipids in Health and Disease
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Summary:Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are amphipathic lipids ubiquitously expressed in all vertebrate cells and body fluids, but they are especially abundant in the nervous system. The synthesis of GSLs generally is initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum and completed in the Golgi apparatus, followed by transportation to the plasma membrane surface as an integral component. The amount and expression patterns of GSLs change drastically in brains during the embryonic to postnatal stages. Recent studies have revealed that GSLs are highly localized in cell surface microdomains and function as important components that mediate signal transduction and cell adhesion. Also in developing brains, GSLs are suggested to play important roles in nervous system formation. Disturbance of GSL expression and metabolism affects brain function, resulting in a variety of diseases, particularly lysosomal storage diseases. In this review, we describe some aspects of the roles of GSLs, especially of gangliosides, in brain development.
ISSN:0022-2275
1539-7262
DOI:10.1194/jlr.R800028-JLR200