The Lactosylceramides, also known as LacCer, are a class of

glycosphingolipid Glycosphingolipids are a subtype of glycolipids containing the amino alcohol sphingosine. They may be considered as sphingolipids with an attached carbohydrate. Glycosphingolipids are a group of lipids (more specifically, sphingolipids) and are ...

s composed of a variable hydrophobic ceramide lipid and a hydrophilic sugar moiety. Lactosylceramides are found in microdomains on the plasma layers of numerous cells. Moreover, they are a type of ceramide including lactose, which is an example of a

globoside Globosides (also known as globo-series glycosphingolipids) are a sub-class of the lipid class glycosphingolipid with three to nine sugar molecules as the side chain (or R group) of ceramide. The sugars are usually a combination of ''N''-acetylg ...

Composition

As with many lipids, the chemical formula and molecular weight varies depending on the fatty-acid present. As one example, the chemical formula of Lactosylceramide (d18:1/12:0) is C₄₂H₇₉NO₁₃, which has 806.088 g/mol of molar mass, and the IUPAC name of this species is N-(dodecanoyl)-1-beta-lactosyl-sphing-4-enine.

Function

Lactosylceramides were initially called 'cytolipin H'. It is found in small amounts in most tissues, however, it has various organic capacities and it is of significance as the biosynthetic forerunner of the greater part of the impartial oligoglycosylceramides, sulfatides and gangliosides. In tissues, biosynthesis of lactosylceramide includes expansion of the second monosaccharides unit (galactose) as its nucleotide subsidiary to monoglucosylceramide, catalyzed by a particular beta-1, 4-galactosyltransferase on the lumenal side of the Golgi mechanical assembly. In tissues, the precursor

glucosylceramide Glucocerebroside (also called glucosylceramide) is any of the cerebrosides in which the monosaccharide head group is glucose. Research conducted on glucocerebrosides has shown that glucocerebrosides help support cellular functions in humans, ...

is moved by the sphingolipid transport protein FAPP2 to the distal

Golgi apparatus The Golgi apparatus (), also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply the Golgi, is an organelle found in most eukaryotic Cell (biology), cells. Part of the endomembrane system in the cytoplasm, it protein targeting, packages proteins ...

, where it initially cross from the cytosolic side of the membrane by means of

flippase Flippases are transmembrane lipid transporter proteins located in the cell membrane. They are responsible for aiding the movement of phospholipid molecules between the two layers, or leaflets, that comprise the membrane. This is called transverse ...

activity. Biosynthesis of lactosylceramide then includes expansion of the second monosaccharides unit as its actuated nucleotide subordinate (UDP-galactose) to monoglucosylceramide on the lumenal side of the Golgi apparatus in a response catalyzed by β-1,4-galactosyltransferases of which two are known. The lactosylceramide created can be further glycosylated, or it very well may be moved to the plasma layer essentially by a non-vesicular system that is inadequately seen, however it can't be translocated back to the cytosolic flyer. It is likewise recovered by the catabolism of a considerable lot of the lipids for which it is the biosynthetic antecedent. Erasure of the lactosylceramide synthase by quality focusing on is embryonically deadly.

Associated disorders

Gaucher's disease Gaucher's disease or Gaucher disease () (GD) is a genetic disorder in which glucocerebroside (a sphingolipid, also known as glucosylceramide) accumulates in cells and certain organs. The disorder is characterized by bruising, fatigue, anemia, low ...

is a sphingolipidosis described by a particular inadequacy in acidic glucocerebrosidase, which results in abnormal gathering of glucosylceramide essentially inside the lysosome. Gaucher's disease has been associated with instances of leukemia, myeloma,

glioblastoma Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive and most common type of cancer that originates in the brain, and has a very poor prognosis for survival. Initial signs and symptoms of glioblastoma are nons ...

, lung malignancy, and

hepatocellular carcinoma Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and is currently the most common cause of death in people with cirrhosis. HCC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC most common ...

, in spite of the fact that the explanations behind the relationship are at present being discussed. Some suggest that the impact of Gaucher's disease might be connected to malignant growth, while others ensnare the treatments used to treat Gaucher's illness. This discussion is not completely astounding, as the theories connecting Gaucher's disease with cancer fail to address the roles of ceramide and glucosylceramide in malignant growth science. Gaucher disease is caused by mutations in GBA1, which encodes the lysosomal catalyst glucocerebrosidase (GCase). GBA1 transformations drive broad gathering of glucosylceramide (GC) in different natural and versatile resistant cells in the spleen, liver, lung and bone marrow, frequently prompting endless irritation. The systems that interface abundance GC to tissue aggravation stay obscure.

References

Glycolipids {{Sphingolipids

Composition

Function

Associated disorders

See also

References