Serine palmitoyltransferase: role in apoptotic de novo ceramide synthesis and other stress responses.

Serine palmitoyltransferase is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of sphingolipid synthesis. As such, it is a central control point in the synthesis of bioactivate sphingolipids, and it plays an important role in mediating cellular stress responses. In this review, its role in mediating these responses is discussed within the context of de novo ceramide synthesis. Furthermore, a discussion is provided of its regulation as discerned from both yeast and mammalian studies.