Matreya phosphosphingolipids for lipidomics research

Phosphosphingolipids are important lipids that function as cellular messengers, enzyme activators and more. Sphingomyelin is found in mammalian cell membranes, especially in the membranes of the myelin sheath, and is the most abundant sphingolipid in mammals. An improper ratio of sphingomyelin to ceramide has been shown to be a factor in Niemann-Pick disease and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Sphingosylphosphorylethanolamine is analogous to sphingomyelin, containing an ethanolamine rather than a choline head group, and is thought to have similar structural functions. Identified in normal blood plasma, ascites and various other tissues, Sphingosylphosphorylcholine is a bioactive lipid. It acts as an intracellular and extracellular signalling molecule in numerous biological processes and activates various signalling cascades.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate has important signalling functions both intra- and intercellularly and is present at low concentrations in cells. It can promote cellular division, regulate calcium mobilisation and cell growth, and can both inhibit and promote apoptosis. Sphingosine-1-phosphate is involved in regulating the proliferation, survival, differentiation and migration of many types of stem cells, especially in the development of the vascular and nervous systems.

Matreya offers an extensive list of phosphosphingolipids including sphingomyelins, sphingosylphosphorylcholines, fluorescent sphingomyelins, stable isotope labelled sphingomyelins, sphingosine phosphates and ceramide phosphates. These highly purified polar lipids can aid lipidomics research, to identify and quantitate phosphosphingolipids in samples and biological systems.