About the structure and biological function of CerPE
Structure. Ceramide phosphoethanolamines (CerPE) belong to the group of phosphosphingolipids within the sphingolipids. Their structure consists of a ceramide backbone bound to a phosphorylethanolamine molecule. The ceramide backbone contains two hydrocarbon chains: a long-chain base which is linked to a fatty acid via an amide bond. The fatty acid and the long-chain base can be of variable length, hydroxylated, and contain double bonds.
Function. Ceramide phosphoethanolamines are the sphingomyelin analogue of insects and some bacteria. In insects, it serves an important role in the functional equivalent of myelin, the insulating layer that forms around the axons of neurons. CerPEs further play a key role in the cell membrane of insects, where they impact membrane properties such as packaging and fluidity. Interestingly, CerPE producing bacteria belong mainly to the Bacteroidetes, which are dominant in the mammalian gut.
