Figure 1.
Basic structure of glycosphingolipids.
First, a long-chain sphingoid base backbone (distinguished from glycerolipids which have a glycerol backbone) is linked to a fatty acid via an amide bond with the 2-amino group and to a polar head group at the C1 position via an ester bond, forming ceramide. Second, ceramide is linked to a sugar (glucose, galactose, or inositol) via a β-glycosidic bond between the hemiacetal group of the sugar and the C1 hydroxyl group of ceramide.
Figure 2.
Glycosphingolipid pathway in fungi.
dhSph, dihydrosphingosine; CerS, ceramide synthases; OH-Cer, α-hydroxy-ceramide; Sld8, Δ8 desaturase; OH-Δ8-Cer, α-hydroxy-Δ8-ceramide; Smt1, C9-methyl transferase; OH-Δ8, 9-Me-Cer, α-hydroxy-Δ8, 9-methylceramide; Gcs1, glucosylceramide synthase 1; OH-Δ8, 9-Me-GlcCer, α-hydroxy-Δ8, 9-methyl-glucosylceramide; phSph, phytosphingosine; PhytoCerS, phytoceramide synthases; phCer, phytoceramide; Ipc1, inositol-phosphoryl ceramide synthase 1; Csg1, mannosyl phosphorylinositol ceramide synthase regulatory protein; Sur1, mannosyl phosphorylinositol ceramide synthase; Ipt1, inositol phosphotransferase 1; IPC, inositol phosphoryl ceramide.