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EC 1.14.19.17 Details
show Brenda entryEC number
1.14.19.17
Accepted name
sphingolipid 4-desaturase
Reaction
a dihydroceramide + 2 ferrocytochrome b5 + O2 + 2 H+ = a (4E)-sphing-4-enine ceramide + 2 ferricytochrome b5 + 2 H2O
Other name(s)
dehydroceramide desaturase
Systematic name
dihydroceramide,ferrocytochrome b5:oxygen oxidoreductase (4,5-dehydrogenating)
Comment
The enzyme, which has been characterized from plants, fungi, and mammals, generates a trans double bond at position 4 of sphinganine bases in sphingolipids [1]. The preferred substrate is dihydroceramide, but the enzyme is also active with dihydroglucosylceramide [2]. Unlike EC 1.14.19.29, sphingolipid 8-desaturase, this enzyme does not contain an integral cytochrome b5 domain [4] and requires an external cytochrome b5 [3]. The product serves as an important signalling molecules in mammals and is required for spermatide differentiation [5].
History
created 2015
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1 Oxidoreductases
1.1 Acting on the CH-OH group of donors
1.14.19.1 stearoyl-CoA 9-desaturase
