METHODS FOR PRODUCING SPHINGO LIPIDS AND SPHINGO LIPID DERIVATIVES

摘要

A process for specifically preparing sphingolipids or sphingolipid derivatives wherein the long-chain fatty acid moiety bonded to a sphingoid is modified or substituted; and sphingolipids or sphingolipid derivatives prepared by the process. The process is characterized by enzymatically reacting a sphingolipid with an aliphatic carboxylic acid or the like in the presence of an enzyme specifically hydrolyzing the acid-amide linkage between the sphingoid and the fatty acid component constituting the sphingolipid to give another sphingolipid or sphingolipid derivative different from the original one in the aliphatic acid chain.