12 Baker’s Yeast: a rising foundation for eukaryotic sphingolipid-mediated cell signaling

Abstract

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been an invaluable tool for the dissection of sphingolipid metabolic pathways and cloning of enzymes involved in sphingolipid metabolism. Due to the biochemical conservation of these pathways in mammalian cells, information gained in yeast has greatly contributed to the understanding of sphingolipid formation and function in mammals. Sphingolipids are involved in diverse cellular processes in yeast including cell cycle control, stress responses, and various steps of intracellular protein transport. Importantly, yeast systems are allowing the characterization of mechanisms of sphingolipid involvement. In addition to sphingolipid signaling via interaction with direct protein targets, sphingolipids are involved in protein transport as components of lipid rafts, and also allow correct protein anchoring to membrane as components of GPI anchors. Novel methods and strategies are beginning to allow the placement of sphingolipids within broader cellular contexts.