Dihydroceramide

Both in yeast and mammalian systems, dihydroceramide is the reaction intermediate found immediately prior to the final reaction product in the de novo synthesis of ceramide lipids. Recent studies have revealed that an accumulation of dihydroceramide will induce autophagy. Accumulation of dihydroceramide occurs due to inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of dihydroceramide into ceramide.

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