CERS2
CERS2 (ceramide synthase 2, also known as SP260, LASS2 and FLJ10243) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane enzyme of the sphingosine N-acyltransferase family. It transfers acyl chains from acyl-CoA to sphingoid bases, with a marked preference for very-long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CERS2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CERS2 is a ceramide synthase that catalyses the transfer of the acyl chain from acyl-CoA to a sphingoid base. It shows high selectivity toward very-long-chain fatty acyl-CoA, with chain lengths of C22 to C27. The enzyme N-acylates sphinganine to form dihydroceramides in de novo synthesis, and N-acylates sphingosine to form ceramides in salvage pathways. It has a non-redundant role in producing ceramides with very-long-chain fatty acids in kidney, liver and brain.
CERS2 also regulates the abundance of the myelin-specific sphingolipids galactosylceramide and sulfatide. Through these lipids it affects myelin sheath architecture and motor neuron function, which makes the CERS2 protein a point of interest in sphingolipid and neurobiology research. The protein resides in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and belongs to the sphingosine N-acyltransferase family. In HGNC it is placed in the ceramide synthase gene group.
The CERS2 gene encodes a protein with sequence similarity to yeast longevity assurance gene 1 (LAG1). Mutation or overexpression of the related yeast gene alters yeast lifespan, which explains the earlier names LASS2 and longevity assurance homolog 2. The human protein may play a role in the regulation of cell growth. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described that all encode the same protein. Other ceramide synthases, such as CERS1, CERS4 and CERS6, differ in their acyl-chain preferences, so CERS2 is often studied alongside them.
CERS2 forms dihydroceramides and ceramides in de novo and salvage pathways, making it central to studies of very-long-chain ceramide synthesis.
CERS2 regulates galactosylceramide and sulfatide levels, which affect myelin sheath architecture and motor neuron function.
CERS2 has a non-redundant role in making very-long-chain ceramides in kidney, liver and brain tissue.
The human protein may play a role in regulating cell growth, and it is related to the yeast longevity assurance gene LAG1.
CERS2 is a ceramide synthase that moves an acyl chain from acyl-CoA onto a sphingoid base. It prefers very-long-chain acyl-CoAs (C22-C27) and forms dihydroceramides and ceramides. It also regulates myelin sphingolipids such as galactosylceramide and sulfatide.
CERS2 is also known as SP260, FLJ10243 and LASS2. Earlier names include longevity assurance (LAG1, S. cerevisiae) homolog 2 and LAG1 homolog, ceramide synthase 2. NCBI reports alternatively spliced transcript variants, all encoding the same protein.
The human protein resembles yeast longevity assurance gene 1, and mutation or overexpression of the related yeast gene alters yeast lifespan. A mouse ortholog, Cers2, exists. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ceramide synthases that act in sphingolipid metabolism and ceramide biosynthesis.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q96G23; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.