Lipid signaling in CD95-mediated apoptosis

Ceramides play an important role mediating different cell responses such as proliferation, differentiation, growth arrest and apoptosis. They are rele ased upon sphingomyelin hydrolysis which occurs after triggering of a numbe r of cell surface receptors including CD95. Ceramide generation also regula tes glycosphingolipid and ganglioside metabolism. In particular, gangliosid e GD3 biosynthesis represents an important event for the progression of apo ptotic signals generated by CD95 and mediated by ceramide in hematopoietic cells. (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.