Question

Why are human nerve fibers rich in sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids? What is the purpose of these biological molecules? Explain and cite your sources.

Answer 1

Nervous system is highly enriched in sphingolopids.They are essential component of the plasma membranes and are crucial for proper brain development and functions. Sphingolipids are not merely structural elements, but are also recognized as regulators of cellular events by their ability to form microdomains in the plasma membrane. The significance of such compartmentalization spans broadly from being involved in differentiation of neurons and synaptic transmission to neuronal-glial interactions and myelin stability. Thus, perturbations of the sphingolipid metabolism can lead to rearrangements in the plasma membrane, which has been linked to the development of various neurological diseases.

Glycosphingolipids are found on the outer parts of cell membranes and it plays not only a structural role to maintain membrane stability but also facilitates cell-cell communication thus, acting as receptors, anchors for proteins and regulators of signal transduction. They also help in immune modulation.