Sphingolipids: Basic Science and Drug Development

✍ Scribed by Edward H. Schuchman, Calogera M. Simonaro (auth.), Erich Gulbins, Irina Petrache (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Wien
• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 263
• Series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 215
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Sphingolipids are lipid components of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells. They have an important function in signaling mechanisms in the cell. This book on sphingolipids provides insights into the basics of sphingolipid biology and drug development, with a particular emphasis on the sphingolipid derivative ceramide. In the first part basic functions of sphingolipids are described, as well as the genetics of important enzymes, sphingolipid metabolism and synthesis. The second part of this first volume focuses on drug development and pharmacology. The book is intended for scientists in pharmacology, biochemistry and cell biology with a focus on biomedical research as well as for clinicians working in pharmacology, oncology, cardiology, neurology and infectious disease. Together with Volume 216 by the same editors, the collection represents a unique, comprehensive work on sphingolipids, providing information on both sphingolipids’ basic biology (including synthesis, metabolism and cell biology) and their important function in a (patho-)physiological context.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Genetics of Sphingolipid Hydrolases and Sphingolipid Storage Diseases....Pages 3-32
Sphingolipids and Membrane Domains: Recent Advances....Pages 33-55
Sphingolipid Metabolism and Neutral Sphingomyelinases....Pages 57-76
Acid Sphingomyelinase....Pages 77-88
Ceramide Synthases: Reexamining Longevity....Pages 89-107
Membrane Channels Formed by Ceramide....Pages 109-126
Genetic Disorders of Simple Sphingolipid Metabolism....Pages 127-152
The Role of Ceramide-1-Phosphate in Biological Functions....Pages 153-166
Front Matter....Pages 167-167
Functional Inhibitors of Acid Sphingomyelinase (FIASMAs)....Pages 169-186
Novel Drugs Targeting Sphingolipid Metabolism....Pages 187-196
The Therapeutic Potential of Nanoscale Sphingolipid Technologies....Pages 197-210
Novel Chemotherapeutic Drugs in Sphingolipid Cancer Research....Pages 211-238
Pharmacology of the Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Signalling System....Pages 239-253
Back Matter....Pages 255-259

✦ Subjects

Pharmacology/Toxicology; Membrane Biology; Cell Biology; Molecular Medicine