Definition of sphingosine in US English:

noun

• A basic compound which is a constituent of a number of substances important in the metabolism of nerve cells, especially sphingomyelins.

  A crystalline alcohol; chemical formula: C₁₈H₃₇NO₂

  Example sentences

  • ‘Analysis of tissues for sphinganine and sphingosine is not readily available.’
  • ‘Sphingolipids are composed of a backbone of sphingosine which is derived itself from glycerol.’
  • ‘In contrast, the increase of SM content in MEB4 cells to 6% by the addition of sphingosine did not affect the viability of the cells.’
  • ‘Amino acylation, with a long chain fatty acid, at carbon 2 of sphingosine yields a ceramide.’
  • ‘It is, in principle, possible that sphingosine could be involved in the regulation of gene expression and signal transduction.’