Glycosphingolipids are amphipathic compounds consisting of oligosaccharides and ceramide moieties and are cell surface components of all vertebrates. Some glycosphingolipids are tumor-associated antigens and receptors of bacterial toxins and hormones and modulate cell growth and differentiation (1). Some of these biological functions of glycosphingolipids have been elucidated in experiments in which glycosphingolipids are added to cells. However, information on the roles of endogenous glycosphingolipids in biological processes is limited.Endoglycoceramidase (EGCase), 1 found first in a culture supernatant of Rhodococcus sp. strain G-74-2 (2), cleaves the linkage between oligosaccharides and ceramides of various glycosphingolipids. EGCases have been found in bacterial cells (3), earthworms (4), leeches (5), rabbit mammary tissues (6), and clams (7), as well. Three molecular species of the enzyme, EGCases I, II, and III, each with different specificity, have been isolated from the culture supernatant of Rhodococcus sp. strain M-750, a mutant of the wild strain G-74-2 (8). EGCase II hydrolyzed globo-type glycosphingolipids more slowly than did EGCase I. EGCase III specifically hydrolyzed the galactosylceramide linkage of gala-type glycosphingolipids, which were resistant to EGCase I and II. These enzymes are useful in structural studies of glycosphingolipids (7, 9 -14).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.