This product is a high purity, well-defined, L-erythro-dihydrosphingosine which demonstrates unique properties as compared with the natural D-erythro isomer and is therefore ideal for use in studies of dihydrosphingosine. Natural D-erythrodihydrosphingosine is the precursor of dihydroceramide which is then desaturated to form ceramide. It is a critical intermediate in the synthesis of many complex sphingoid bases and ceramide analogs. It has been found that dihydrosphingosine can induce cell death in a number of types of malignant cells and it is being tested for its pharmacological properties.1 Whereas both D-threo and L-threo-C2-dihydroceramide induced apoptosis in cells neither Derythro nor L-erythro-C2-dihydroceramide showed activity.2 One report has concluded that all four of the enantiomers of dihydrosphingsoine act as substrates for sphingosine kinase with only the natural D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine being metabolized by sphinganine-1-phosphate lyase.3 However, another report concludes that only the erythro isomers of dihydrosphingosine act as substrates for this enzyme with both of the threo isomers inhibiting its activity.4
