Basics of Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signalling

The term sphingolipid was coined by J.L.W. Thudichum before the turn of the nineteenth century, referring to the enigmatic (related to the Sphinx myth) nature of this class of molecules. One hundred thirty years later, the enigma is not yet completely solved. Nevertheless, much progress has been made, shedding light on the numerous roles these lipids play in eukaryotes. How sphingolipids are synthesized, transformed and degraded in mammalian cells, and how some of them transduce signals and regulate biological functions is reviewed in this chapter. Special attention is given to those sphingolipid species which regulate key aspects of the development of malignancies in humans, and therefore represent potential targets for therapy.