Chemical synthesis of fluorescent glycero- and sphingolipids

Glycero- and sphingolipids have been shown to be building blocks of membranes and lipoproteins, metabolites and important intermediaries in the signalling cascades involved in stress responses, proliferation of cells and also apoptosis. Investigations into the exact functions of these lipids have found that they are fundamentally more important than previously thought and that they are intricately involved in the processes of many significant metabolic pathways and diseases. Investigation of these functions requires the detection of the lipids in their natural environment within membranes. To this end, fluorescent labelling has become one of the preferred means in which to study these essential components due to the relative ease of detection. This review will look at the novel compounds that have been synthesised recently through various methodologies including classical lipid synthesis as well as the innovative application of organometallic chemistry. This field has expanded with the advancements in fluorescence detection and these lipids are being used as specific probes for an extensive range of applications in order to ascertain the mechanisms and signalling capabilities of this very important class of biological compounds.