Ceramides in apoptosis signaling

The accirmulating evidence for a role of ceramides in apoptosis signaling has generated interest in cellular sphingomyelinases, as emerging key components of the lipid pathway to programmed cell death. 

Figure 1. Ceramide mediated apoptosis signaling, Recent investigations hypothesize that, at least for drug induced apoptosis, the src kinase Lyn is activated and recruited to plasma membrane rafts. There it binds to and activates a neutral sphingomyelinase (SMase) within minutes. This initial rise in ceramide levels initiates an apoptotic cascade. Howevo- several cellular events can inhibit ceramide production (by blocking sphingomyelinase activation or clearing out ceramide accumulation through increased metabolisation) and therefore contribute to cellular resistance/survival.

Acid Sphingomyelinase-derived Ceramide Signaling in Apoptosis... 

---