The presence of ceramidase activity in liver nuclear membrane

Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 Jun;26(6):775-9. doi: 10.1248/bpb.26.775.

Abstract

This report presents a demonstration of ceramidase activity in the nuclear membrane or envelope of mammalian livers. The products of ceramidase reaction were identified by means of TLC for released fatty acid and HPLC for sphingosine. The ceramidase activity was maximum over a broad neutral to alkaline region ranging from pH 7.0 to 8.8. This activity was inhibited by N-oleoylethanolamine known as a specific inhibitor for ceramidase and by anandamide to a similar extent. The enzymatic study suggests that the nuclear ceramidase has different properties from other ceramidase reported previously. As sphingomyelinase, one of enzymes involved in the sphingomyelin cycle, are known to be present in the nuclear membrane, it is now evident that at least two enzymes involved in the sphingomyelin cycle are present in the nuclear membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amidohydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Amidohydrolases / chemistry
  • Amidohydrolases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Cations, Divalent / pharmacology
  • Ceramidases
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Ethanolamines / pharmacology
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydrolysis
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Nuclear Envelope / enzymology*
  • Oleic Acids
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Rats
  • Sphingosine / chemistry
  • Swine

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Cations, Divalent
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Ethanolamines
  • Oleic Acids
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • N-oleoylethanolamine
  • Amidohydrolases
  • Ceramidases
  • Sphingosine
  • anandamide