CERS4
CERS4 (ceramide synthase 4, also known as LASS4, Trh1 and FLJ12089) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane enzyme that catalyses the formation of ceramide from sphinganine and acyl-CoA. It shows high selectivity toward long and very-long acyl chains. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CERS4 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CERS4 is a ceramide synthase that catalyses the formation of ceramide from sphinganine and acyl-CoA substrates. Its defining property is substrate selectivity: it acts with high preference toward long and very-long acyl chains (C18:0-C22:0) as the acyl donor. This places CERS4 among the enzymes that determine which ceramide species a cell produces, since each ceramide synthase handles a characteristic range of acyl-chain lengths. The protein belongs to the sphingosine N-acyltransferase family, and its activity is described as sphingosine N-acyltransferase activity involved in the ceramide biosynthetic process.
The human CERS4 gene encodes a protein that is localised to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane according to UniProt, consistent with the role of ceramide synthases in sphingolipid biosynthesis. NCBI Gene also reports the protein in the nucleoplasm. HGNC classifies the gene within the ceramide synthase group, alongside other family members such as CERS1, CERS2 and CERS6. Researchers studying the CERS4 gene or CERS4 protein often compare it with these paralogues to understand how acyl-chain specificity is divided among the family. A mouse ortholog, Cers4, is recognised.
The gene has been known under several names. Earlier symbols include LASS4, Trh1 and FLJ12089, and previous names are LAG1 longevity assurance homolog 4 (S. cerevisiae) and LAG1 homolog, ceramide synthase 4. These reflect its original identification as a homologue of the yeast LAG1 gene before the ceramide synthase nomenclature was adopted.
CERS4 catalyses ceramide formation from sphinganine and acyl-CoA, making it a point of interest in the de novo ceramide biosynthetic process.
CERS4 favours C18:0-C22:0 acyl donors, so it is used to explore how ceramide synthases divide substrate chain lengths.
As a member of the sphingosine N-acyltransferase family, CERS4 is studied alongside CERS1, CERS2 and CERS6 to compare enzyme roles.
CERS4 sits in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, a site of sphingolipid synthesis, and is relevant to studies of lipid enzyme localisation.
CERS4 is a ceramide synthase. It catalyses the formation of ceramide from sphinganine and acyl-CoA substrates, with high selectivity toward long and very-long acyl chains (C18:0-C22:0). It is located in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and belongs to the sphingosine N-acyltransferase family.
CERS4 is also called LASS4, Trh1 and FLJ12089. Previous full names are LAG1 longevity assurance homolog 4 (S. cerevisiae) and LAG1 homolog, ceramide synthase 4. The current HGNC name is ceramide synthase 4, and the enzyme class is EC 2.3.1.-.
A mouse ortholog, Cers4, exists, and the gene's earlier names refer to the yeast LAG1 homologue. This points to an evolutionarily conserved ceramide synthase family. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ceramide synthase family members involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9HA82; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.