Ceramide’s Role and Biosynthesis: A Brief Review

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 371 - 378
• Main Authors: Amalia, Lita, Tsai, Shen-Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering 01.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V; 한국생물공학회
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Cell membranes; Ceramide; ceramides; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cytology; family; Industrial and Production Engineering; Mammals; markets; Organisms; Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology; Precursors; Review Paper; Sphingolipids; synthesis; therapeutics; Yeast; yeasts; 생물공학; apoptotic; ceramide; skin-barrier; sphingolipid; characterization; biosynthesis
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0257-8

The utilization of ceramides, which are members of the sphingolipid family, has been widely acknowledged in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, along with various other applications as therapeutic agents. Most ceramides currently available on the market are synthetic ceramides created through chemical reactions with precursors resembling the natural precursor of sphingolipid production by living organisms. In fact, many organisms ranging from microbes to higher-order mammals natively use metabolism to produce sphingolipids, including ceramides and their derivatives, to support cell molecular functions. Sphingolipids, for instance, are present in the cell membranes of mammals, plants, and yeast to maintain membrane morphology. As a green alternative to the chemical synthesis method, many studies have been carried out to reveal the diversity and characteristics of biologically produced ceramide derivatives. In this review, we summarized the most important aspects of ceramide biosynthesis in general and provide a quick overview of the common organisms producing ceramides. In addition, a brief discussion regarding the role of ceramides in cells and their risks was included. As the biosynthesis of ceramides is an attractive alternative to current commercial methods, the advances reviewed herein demonstrate the untapped potential for the further development of synthetic pathways to enhance biobased-ceramide production.