Journal article

A Novel Function of Sphingosine Kinase 2 in the Metabolism of Sphinga-4,14-Diene Lipids

Timothy Andrew Couttas, Yepy Hardi Rustam, Huitong Song, Yanfei Qi, Jonathan David Teo, Jinbiao Chen, Gavin Edmund Reid, Anthony Simon Don

Metabolites | MDPI AG | Published : 2020

Open access

Abstract

The number, position, and configuration of double bonds in lipids affect membrane fluidity and the recruitment of signaling proteins. Studies on mammalian sphingolipids have focused on those with a saturated sphinganine or mono-unsaturated sphingosine long chain base. Using high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we observed a marked accumulation of lipids containing a di-unsaturated sphingadiene base in the hippocampus of mice lacking the metabolic enzyme sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2). The double bonds were localized to positions C4–C5 and C14–C15 of sphingadiene using ultraviolet photodissociation-tandem mass spectrometry (UVPD-MS/MS). Phosphorylation of s..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers