Biologically Active Substance
ceramide

[ sayr-uh-mide ]
Subclass of:
Neutral Glycosphingolipids;
Amides
Definitions related to ceramides:
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A type of lipid (fat) found in the membranes of cells and the covers of nerves. Some ceramides are important in signal transduction (the process by which a cell responds to substances in its environment) and may cause some types of cells to die. Ceramides are being studied in the treatment of cancer.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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N-acyl sphingosine, a neutral lipid with 2 long aliphatic tails, the parent compound of sphingolipids.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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One of a number of a class of sphingolipids, N-acyl derivatives with long chains. Ceramide is the core molecule for the synthesis of sphingomyelin, an essential lipid for myelination and neurotransmission; it may function as a second messenger to stimulate differentiation, inhibit proliferation, and induce apoptosis. (NCI04)NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Members of the class of neutral glycosphingolipids. They are the basic units of SPHINGOLIPIDS. They are sphingoids attached via their amino groups to a long chain fatty acyl group. They abnormally accumulate in FABRY DISEASE.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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