Synthesis of Glycosphingolipids

Synthesis of glycosphingolipids occurs in the endoplasmic reticului and Golgi by sequential addition of glycosyl monomers transferred fio sugar-nucleotide donors to the acceptor molecule. The mechanism similar to that used in glycoprotein synthesis (see p. 164). 

The enzymes involved in the synthesis of glycosphingolipids are cjh cosyl transferases, each specific for a particular sugar-nucleotid and acceptor. [Note These enzymes may recognize both glya sphingolipids and glycoproteins as substrates.]... 

Nicolaou, K C, Caulfield, T, Kataoka, H, Kumazawa, T, A practical and enantioselective synthesis of glycosphingolipids and related-compounds. Total synthesis of globotriaosylceramide (Gbii), J. Am. Chem. Soc., 110, 7910-7912, 1988. 

Synthesis of glycosphingolipids. De novo synthesis of GSLs occurs at the cytosolic membranes of endoplasmic reticulum... 

Synthesis of glycosphingolipids and sulfoglycosphin-golipids involves the addition of sugar and sulfate residues to ceramide from UDP-sugar derivatives or the activated sulfate donor 3 -phosphoadenosine-5 -phosphosulfate (Chapter 17), and appropriate transferases. These pathways are discussed in Chapter 16. Catabolism of sphingolipids is by specific lysosomal hydrolases. Several inherited disorders associated with the deficiencies of these enzymes are discussed below. 

The endoglycosidase, ceramide glycanase, is used to transfer an oligosaccharide group from a water-soluble polymer to ceramide. This enzymatic tool provides an efficient new method for polymer-supported synthesis of glycosphingolipids (119). 

Importantly, non-vesicular transport of GlcCer from its site of synthesis (early Golgi) to distal Golgi compartments is carried out by FAPP2, four-phosphate adaptor protein, controlling the synthesis of glycosphingolipids,... 

Nishimura, S.-l. and Yamada, K. (1997) Transfer of ganglioside GM3 oligosaccharide from a water soluble polymer to ceramide by ceramide glycanase. A novel approach for the chemical-enzymatic synthesis of glycosphingolipids. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119,10555-10556. 

A review with 46 references has appeared on recent progress in oligosaccharide synthesis, and others on the synthesis of glycosphingolipids and also the oligosaccharide of the antibiotic calicheamicin, and on the current state of knowledge on the synthesis and conformational analysis of xylose-containing chains from IV-glycoproteins. ... 

---