Ceramide glucosyltransferase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the UGCGgene.[1][2][3]
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are a group of membrane components that contain lipid and sugar moieties. They are present in essentially all animal cells and are believed to have important roles in various cellular processes. UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase catalyzes the first glycosylation step in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. The product, glucosylceramide, is the core structure of more than 300 GSLs. UGCG is widely expressed and transcription is upregulated during keratinocyte differentiation.[3]
↑Ichikawa S, Ozawa K, Hirabayashi Y (Jun 1998). "Assignment of a UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase gene (UGCG) to human chromosome band 9q31 by in situ hybridization". Cytogenet Cell Genet. 79 (3–4): 233–4. doi:10.1159/000134731. PMID9605861.
↑Di Sano, Federica; Fazi Barbara; Citro Gennaro; Lovat Penny E; Cesareni Gianni; Piacentini Mauro (Jul 2003). "Glucosylceramide synthase and its functional interaction with RTN-1C regulate chemotherapeutic-induced apoptosis in neuroepithelioma cells". Cancer Res. 63 (14): 3860–5. ISSN0008-5472. PMID12873973.
Further reading
Kohyama-Koganaya A, Hirabayashi Y (2002). "[Role of glucosylceramide synthase as negative regulator for ceramide]". Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso. 47 (4 Suppl): 470–5. PMID11915344.
Matsuo N, Nomura T, Imokawa G (1992). "A rapid and simple assay method for UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1116 (2): 97–103. doi:10.1016/0304-4165(92)90105-4. PMID1533793.
Watanabe R, Wu K, Paul P, et al. (1998). "Up-regulation of glucosylceramide synthase expression and activity during human keratinocyte differentiation". J. Biol. Chem. 273 (16): 9651–5. doi:10.1074/jbc.273.16.9651. PMID9545298.
Tepper AD, Diks SH, van Blitterswijk WJ, Borst J (2000). "Glucosylceramide synthase does not attenuate the ceramide pool accumulating during apoptosis induced by CD95 or anti-cancer regimens". J. Biol. Chem. 275 (44): 34810–7. doi:10.1074/jbc.M005142200. PMID10945987.
Ogretmen B, Schady D, Usta J, et al. (2001). "Role of ceramide in mediating the inhibition of telomerase activity in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells". J. Biol. Chem. 276 (27): 24901–10. doi:10.1074/jbc.M100314200. PMID11335714.
Di Sano F, Fazi B, Citro G, et al. (2003). "Glucosylceramide synthase and its functional interaction with RTN-1C regulate chemotherapeutic-induced apoptosis in neuroepithelioma cells". Cancer Res. 63 (14): 3860–5. PMID12873973.
Grazide S, Terrisse AD, Lerouge S, et al. (2004). "Cytoprotective effect of glucosylceramide synthase inhibition against daunorubicin-induced apoptosis in human leukemic cell lines". J. Biol. Chem. 279 (18): 18256–61. doi:10.1074/jbc.M314105200. PMID14766899.
Norris-Cervetto E, Callaghan R, Platt FM, et al. (2004). "Inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase does not reverse drug resistance in cancer cells". J. Biol. Chem. 279 (39): 40412–8. doi:10.1074/jbc.M404466200. PMID15263008.
Turzanski J, Grundy M, Shang S, et al. (2005). "P-glycoprotein is implicated in the inhibition of ceramide-induced apoptosis in TF-1 acute myeloid leukemia cells by modulation of the glucosylceramide synthase pathway". Exp. Hematol. 33 (1): 62–72. doi:10.1016/j.exphem.2004.10.005. PMID15661399.
Sun NN, Fastje CD, Wong SS, et al. (2005). "Dose-dependent transcriptome changes by metal ores on a human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line". Toxicology and Industrial Health. 19 (7–10): 157–63. doi:10.1191/0748233703th185oa. PMID15747776.