| First Author | Ginkel C | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | J Biol Chem | Volume | 287 |
| Issue | 50 | Pages | 41888-902 |
| PubMed ID | 23074226 | Mgi Jnum | J:193419 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5468389 | Doi | 10.1074/jbc.M112.413500 |
| Citation | Ginkel C, et al. (2012) Ablation of neuronal ceramide synthase 1 in mice decreases ganglioside levels and expression of myelin-associated glycoprotein in oligodendrocytes. J Biol Chem 287(50):41888-902 |
| abstractText | Ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1) catalyzes the synthesis of C18 ceramide and is mainly expressed in the brain. Custom-made antibodies to a peptide from the C-terminal region of the mouse CerS1 protein yielded specific immunosignals in neurons but no other cell types of wild type brain, but the CerS1 protein was not detected in CerS1-deficient mouse brains. To elucidate the biological function of CerS1-derived sphingolipids in the brain, we generated CerS1-deficient mice by introducing a targeted mutation into the coding region of the cers1 gene. General deficiency of CerS1 in mice caused a foliation defect, progressive shrinkage, and neuronal apoptosis in the cerebellum. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed up to 60% decreased levels of gangliosides in cerebellum and forebrain. Expression of myelin-associated glycoprotein was also decreased by about 60% in cerebellum and forebrain, suggesting that interaction and stabilization of oligodendrocytic myelin-associated glycoprotein by neuronal gangliosides is due to the C18 acyl membrane anchor of CerS1-derived precursor ceramides. A behavioral analysis of CerS1-deficient mice yielded functional deficits including impaired exploration of novel objects, locomotion, and motor coordination. Our results reveal an essential function of CerS1-derived ceramide in the regulation of cerebellar development and neurodevelopmentally regulated behavior. |
