Catabolism of glycosphingolipid

In contrast to glycosphingolipids containing 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, virtually nothing is known about the catabolism of glycosphingolipids containing 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose. 

The concept of the catabolism of glycosphingolipids by glycohydro-lases has entered a new era with the discovery of protein activators, but there are many questions remaining to be answered. What is the physiological role of the activators What is the mode of their action ... 

An article by Li and Li (Tnlane University, LA) on the biosynthesis and catabolism of glycosphingolipids serves to extend that by Kiss (Vol. 24), which dealt mainly with the chemistry of these compounds. Schwarz and Datema (Giessen) provide a detailed account of the lipid pathway of protein glyeosylation and of its inhibitors, and then discuss the biological significance of protein-bound carbohydrates, thereby... 

Figure 20-11 Biosynthesis and catabolism of glycosphingolipids. The heavy bars indicate metabolic blocks in known diseases.

However, castanospermine also inhibits the activity of lysosomal p-glucosidase and this affects the catabolism of glycosphingolipids. ... 

Sphingosine is catabolized to rrans-2-hexadecanal and phosphoethanolamine by way of sphingosine phosphate and its cleavage by a lyase. Catabolism of glycosphingolipids involves removal of successive glycosyl residues from their nonreducing end until ceramide is released. 

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