Center for Metabolomic Studies Seminar Series: “Novel Functions for Atypical Sphingolipids”
Speaker:
L. Ashley Cowart, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Director, Lipidomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource
Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
Presentation: “Novel Functions for Atypical Sphingolipids”
Abstract:
Sphingolipids represent a class of bioactive membrane lipids that regulate numerous cell processes including apoptosis, autophagy, intracellular signaling, and metabolism. Our work has recently identified a novel subset of atypical sphingolipids required for function of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Depletion of these lipids led to significant alterations in cell metabolism in cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, and several cancer models. Using a combination of untargeted, targeted, and stable isotope labeling mass spectrometry strategies, we continue to dissect fundamental mechanisms of sphingolipid action across numerous biologically relevant systems.