Cerebrosides reduction

FIGURE 21-31 Biosynthesis of sphingolipids. Condensation of palmitoyl-CoA and serine followed by reduction with NADPH yields sphinganine, which is then acylated to N-acylsphinganine (a ceramide). In animals, a double bond (shaded pink) is created by a mixed-function oxidase, before the final addition of a head group phosphatidylcholine, to form sphingomyelin glucose, to form a cerebroside. 

A number of similar studies on cell surface galactolipids have been based on this galactose oxidase-NaB3Hi, reduction procedure. However, it is now apparent that only a very small portion, less than 0.5% if any, of the cerebrosides in membranes are oxidizable by galactose oxidase. Therefore, cerebrosides and possibly other galactolipids previously identified by the surface labeling... 

Honke K, Hirahara Y, Dupree J, Suzuki K, Popko B, Fukushima K, Fukushima J, Nagasawa T, Yoshida N, Wada Y, Taniguchi N. Paranodal junction formation and spermatogenesis require sulfo-glycolipids. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2002 99 4227 232. Sundaram KS, Lev M. The long-term administration of L-cycloserine to mice specific reduction of cerebroside level. Neurochem. Res. 1989 14 245-248. 

The biochemical findings in a human case with relapsing symptoms after CO poisoning [43] include reduction of total phospholipids, cerebrosides and of total cholesterol to about 40-50% of the amount in the controls. Lipid hexosamines and total hexosamines are not markedly different from controls. In the grey matter, however, biochemical changes are practically absent. 

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