A search for ceramide binding proteins using bifunctional lipid analogs yields CERT-related protein StarD7.

ABSTRACT: Ceramides are central intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism with dual roles as mediators of cellular stress signaling and mitochondrial apoptosis. How ceramides exert their cytotoxic effects is unclear and their poor solubility in water hampers a search for specific protein interaction partners. Here, we report the application of a photoactivatable and clickable ceramide analog, pacCer, to identify ceramide binding proteins and unravel the structural basis by which these proteins recognize ceramide. Besides capturing ceramide transfer protein (CERT) from a complex proteome, our approach yielded CERT-related steroidogenic acute regulatory protein D7 (StarD7) as novel ceramide binding protein. Previous work revealed that StarD7 is required for efficient mitochondrial import of phosphatidy

SUBMITTER: Bockelmann S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5832928 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature