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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors
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Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors

Published on: August 5, 2022

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Small molecule inhibitors of ceramidases

Essa M Saied1, Christoph Arenz

  • 1Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute for Chemistry, Berlin, Germany.

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry : International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology
|July 1, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Ceramidases regulate cell fate by balancing ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate levels. Inhibitors targeting ceramidases show promise against cancer cell survival and multi-drug resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The balance between pro-apoptotic ceramide and pro-survival sphingosine-1-phosphate is critical for cell fate.
  • Ceramidases are key enzymes regulating this balance and are potential therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of different ceramidases.
  • To review known ceramidase inhibitors.
  • To discuss current strategies for developing novel ceramidase inhibitors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of ceramidases.
  • Analysis of existing ceramidase inhibitors.
  • Discussion of drug development strategies.

Main Results:

  • Ceramidases play crucial roles in cell death and survival pathways.
  • Early in vivo studies indicate potential of ceramidase inhibitors against cancer cell survival and multi-drug resistance.
  • Limited availability of highly active inhibitors has been a challenge.

Conclusions:

  • Ceramidases represent attractive targets for pharmacological intervention in diseases involving cell fate regulation.
  • Further development of potent ceramidase inhibitors is warranted for therapeutic applications, particularly in oncology.

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