Sphingomyelin
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Sphingomyelin is a type of sphingolipid found in animal cell membranes, especially in the membranous myelin sheath which surrounds some nerve cell axons. It usually consists of phosphorylcholine and ceramide.
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[edit] Composition
In humans, it is the only membrane phospholipid not derived from glycerol.
Like all sphingolipids, it consists of sphingosine bonded to one fatty acid and one polar head group, which, in sphingomyelins, is either phosphocholine or phosphoethanolamine.
The fatty acid is attached to the second carbon of sphingosine via an amide linkage.
[edit] Function and location
The function of sphingomyelin remained unclear until recently when it was found to have a function in signal transduction.
Sphingomyelin is only found in the exoplasmic face of the cell membrane.
[edit] Additional images
 Ball-and-stick model of sphingomyelin |
 Skeletal formula of sphingomyelin |
[edit] External links
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Ganglioside (GD2, GM1)
Ceramide: Cerebroside (Galactocerebroside, Glucocerebroside) - Globoside
Sphingomyelin
Glycerophospholipids/Phosphoglycerides: Phosphatidylethanolamine - Phosphatidylcholine - Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine - Cardiolipin - Phosphatidylserine - Ether lipids (Plasmalogen, Platelet-activating factor)
Phosphatidylinositol - Glycophosphatidylinositol - Phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate - Phosphatidylinositol (3,4)-bisphosphate - Phosphatidylinositol (3,5)-bisphosphate - Phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate - Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate
Sphingomyelin
