Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39672331›Full record

ArticleJournal of lipid research2025

Optical control of sphingolipid biosynthesis using photoswitchable sphingosines.

Matthijs Kol, Alexander J E Novak, Johannes Morstein, Christian Schröer, Tolulope Sokoya, Svenja Mensing, Sergei M Korneev, Dirk Trauner, Joost C M Holthuis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of lipid research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Immunomodulatory Effects ofBiomolecules · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Matthijs KolMolecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany. Electronic address: makol@uos.de.
Alexander J E NovakDepartment of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA.
Johannes MorsteinDivision of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
Christian SchröerMolecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Tolulope SokoyaMolecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Svenja MensingMolecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Sergei M KorneevMolecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Dirk TraunerDepartment of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: dtrauner@upenn.edu.
Joost C M HolthuisMolecular Cell Biology Division, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany; Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany. Electronic address: holthuis@uos.de.

Funding

Optical Control of the Actin CytoskeletonR01GM126228 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI DIRK HARTWIG TRAUNER · 2018 to 2026
$2.6M
NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM126228
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sphingolipid metabolism comprises a complex interconnected web of enzymes, metabolites, and modes of regulation that influence a wide range of cellular and physiological processes. Deciphering the biological relevance of this network is challenging as numerous intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism are short-lived molecules with often opposing biological activities. Here, we introduce clickable, azobenzene-containing sphingosines, termed caSphs, as light-sensitive substrates for sphingolipid biosynthesis. Photo-isomerization of the azobenzene moiety enables reversible switching between a straight trans- and curved cis-form of the lipid's hydrocarbon tail. Combining in vitro enzyme assays with metabolic labeling studies, we demonstrate that trans-to-cis isomerization of caSphs profoundly stimulates their metabolic conversion by ceramide synthases and downstream sphingomyelin synthases. These light-induced changes in sphingolipid production rates are acute, reversible, and can be implemented with great efficiency in living cells. Our findings establish caSphs as versatile tools for manipulating sphingolipid biosynthesis and function with the spatiotemporal precision of light.

Indexed as

LightSphingolipidsSphingosineAzo CompoundsHumansOxidoreductasesazobenzeneAzo CompoundsOxidoreductasesSphingolipidsSphingosineazobenzenebudding yeastcell-free expressionceramide synthasechemical synthesisclick chemistrylipidomicsmetabolic labelingphoto-isomerizationsphingomyelin

Identifiers

PMID39672331
PMCPMC11782902

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.