An Introduction to Sphingolipids and Membrane Rafts

The sphingolipids comprise a complex range of lipids in which fatty acids are linked via amide bonds to a long-chain base or sphingoid. The root term “sphingo-” was first coined by J.L.W. Thudichum in 1884 because the enigmatic nature of the molecules reminded him of the riddle of the sphinx. The term “sphingolipide” was introduced by Herbert Carter and colleagues in 1947. While they are perhaps less enigmatic than they once were, sphingolipids are extremely versatile molecules and surprises are certainly expected as new knowledge is gained of their functions in healthy and diseased animal and plant tissues. They are also found in a few bacterial genera (but especially Sphingomonas and Sphingobacterium).