C17 Sphingosine (CAS 6918-48-5)

C17 Sphingosine is a synthetic analog of naturally occurring sphingosine, a key bioactive lipid involved in various cellular signaling pathways. Unlike the typical C18 backbone of natural sphingosine, C17 Sphingosine features a shorter, seventeen-carbon chain, which alters its physical and biochemical properties. This structural variation makes C17 Sphingosine a valuable tool in research, particularly in studies designed to explore sphingosine′s role in cellular signaling mechanisms without the confounding effects of endogenous sphingolipids. In the realm of lipidomics and cell biology, researchers utilize C17 Sphingosine to trace and quantify sphingosine incorporation and metabolism within cells, thanks to its distinct chain length which allows it to be differentiated from its natural counterparts using mass spectrometry or chromatographic techniques. This analog is particularly useful in studying sphingosine kinase activities, enzymes responsible for phosphorylating sphingosine to produce sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a potent signaling molecule involved in regulating cell growth, survival, and migration. By using C17 Sphingosine, scientists can dissect the specific pathways through which sphingosine influences cellular processes and understand how alterations in sphingolipid metabolism affect cell function. This research sheds light on the complex network of lipid signaling that underpins many aspects of cell physiology and pathology.