Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Lipid Metabolism01:24

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body01:31

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various  biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neutral Sphingomyelinase-2 Restrains TAZ to Suppress Breast Tumor Growth.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Metabolic plasticity of sphingolipids governs cancer cell fitness in acidic tumor ecosystems.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

An integrative approach to studying sphingolipid metabolism reveals p53 as a master regulator of the pathway.

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same author

A career in bioactive lipids.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2025
Same author

PKCα as a signaling gatekeeper upstream of mTORC1 in mEGFR NSCLC.

Advances in biological regulation·2025
Same author

Retention of lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase protects from Niemann-Pick Disease.

Neurobiology of disease·2025
Same journal

The Metabolic-Immune Axis in MASH: Is the Macrophage Signature the Key to Liver Disease Staging?

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same journal

BK channel deficiency promotes lipolysis via an AKT-independent activation of the cAMP/PKA/HSL pathway.

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same journal

Interleukin-6 stimulates platelet 12-lipoxygenase to drive coagulation in inflammatory arthritis.

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same journal

LIPA regulates myeloid differentiation and is essential for intra-plaque macrophage accumulation during atherogenesis.

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same journal

Hydrolysis and depletion of phosphatidylglycerol at peak murine acute lung injury.

Journal of lipid research·2026
Same journal

Multispecies transcriptome analysis identifies networks protecting against MASLD in Göttingen minipigs.

Journal of lipid research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Pipeline to Investigate the Structures and Signaling Pathways of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors
12:27

A Pipeline to Investigate the Structures and Signaling Pathways of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors

Published on: June 8, 2022

Bioactive sphingolipids: metabolism and function.

Nana Bartke1, Yusuf A Hannun

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.

Journal of Lipid Research
|November 20, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sphingolipids are vital cell components. This review explores their metabolism, localization, and signaling roles, focusing on bioactive metabolites like ceramide and their enzyme inducers.

More Related Videos

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea
07:36

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Published on: December 23, 2022

Quantitative and Qualitative Method for Sphingomyelin by LC-MS Using Two Stable Isotopically Labeled Sphingomyelin Species
08:53

Quantitative and Qualitative Method for Sphingomyelin by LC-MS Using Two Stable Isotopically Labeled Sphingomyelin Species

Published on: May 7, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Pipeline to Investigate the Structures and Signaling Pathways of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors
12:27

A Pipeline to Investigate the Structures and Signaling Pathways of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors

Published on: June 8, 2022

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea
07:36

Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea

Published on: December 23, 2022

Quantitative and Qualitative Method for Sphingomyelin by LC-MS Using Two Stable Isotopically Labeled Sphingomyelin Species
08:53

Quantitative and Qualitative Method for Sphingomyelin by LC-MS Using Two Stable Isotopically Labeled Sphingomyelin Species

Published on: May 7, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Sphingolipids (SLs) are fundamental to eukaryotic cell structure and function.
  • Specific SL metabolites, such as ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate, act as critical signaling molecules.
  • These signaling molecules regulate key cellular processes including growth, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of sphingolipid metabolism, localization, and compartmentalization.
  • To discuss the roles of bioactive sphingolipid metabolites in cellular regulation.
  • To present inducers of enzymes that generate ceramide.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of sphingolipid metabolism and function.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on sphingolipid localization and compartmentalization.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways involving bioactive sphingolipids.

Main Results:

  • Sphingolipids serve both structural and dynamic signaling roles within cells.
  • Metabolic pathways dictate the generation, conversion, and degradation of SLs.
  • Bioactive SLs and their enzyme inducers are key regulators of cellular fate.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding sphingolipid metabolism and localization is crucial for deciphering their regulatory functions.
  • Bioactive sphingolipids, particularly ceramide, play significant roles in cell signaling.
  • Further research into SL enzyme inducers can reveal new therapeutic targets.