Application Notes:
This high purity fluorescent product is ideal for the identification of lactosylceramides in samples and biological systems.
NBD has been shown to have only a small influence on lipid adsorption into cells and cellular membranes especially when
the fatty acid is a short chain. This fluorescent analog of natural lactosylceramide is comparable to C12:0-ceramide in many
biological functions.1 Lactosylceramide is the precursor of many other glycosphingolipids and also functions as a second
messenger and protein receptor, making it a very important organic molecule. Many cellular processes are dependent on
lactosylceramide since it is the substrate for neutral oligoglycosylceramides and gangliosides, all of which have their own
vital functions. Lactosylceramide also helps to stabilize the lipid membrane, activate receptor molecules and acts as a
receptor for certain bacteria and toxins. In animals, where it is found mostly in epithelial and neuronal cells, it is expressed
on neutrophils and macrophages where it binds to toxins and bacteria, which are then engulfed and eliminated. Its role as a
second messenger has been found to be vital and dysfunctions in its processes can lead to cancer and inflammation since it is
critical to neutrophil activity and in activating anti-inflammatory responses.2 Therefore, it is being studied for its use in
cancer therapies and as a therapy for other diseases. Other examples of lactosylceramide second messenger functions are
tumor necrosis factor and platelet-derived growth factor. A deficiency in the enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing the
galactose of lactosylceramide leads to lactosylceramidosis, which is characterized by an accumulation of lactosylceramide
that causes a primary neurological disorder.3 Lactosylceramide is also important in the activation of platelet/endothelial cell
adhesion molecule-1 which causes adhesion and diapedesis of monocytes/lymphocytes.4
References:
1. Y. Hayashi et al. “A sensitive and reproducible assay to measure the activity of glucosylceramide synthase and lactosylceramide synthase using HPLC
and fluorescent substrates” Analytical Biochemistry, Vol. 345(2) pp. 181-186, 2005
2. Ravinder Pannu et al. “A Novel Role of Lactosylceramide in the Regulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor -mediated Proliferation of Rat Primary
Astrocytes: IMPLICATIONS FOR ASTROGLIOSIS FOLLOWING NEUROTRAUMA” Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 280 pp. 13742-13751, 2005
3. Glyn Dawson “Glycosphingolipid levels in an unusual neurovisceral storage disease characterized by lactosylceramide galactosyl hydrolase deficiency:
lactosylceramidosis” Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 13 pp. 207-219, 1972
4. NanLing Gong “Lactosylceramide recruits PKC and phospholipase A2 to stimulate PECAM-1 expression in human monocytes and adhesion to
endothelial cells” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 101:17 pp. 6490-6495, 2004