SPHINGOLIPID HAVING ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM LOCALIZATION SIGNAL ATTACHED THERETO, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF CERAMIDE IN TRANSFORMED CELL USING ?4-DESATURASE

摘要

Disclosed is a method for producing human ceramide in a cell such as a ye ast cell. The method comprises the following steps 1) and 2): 1) introducing a gene (DES1m) for sphingolipid .DELTA.4-desaturase having an endoplasmic r eticulum localization signal attached thereto by the transformation of a yea st cell, wherein the gene (DES1m) comprises sphingolipid .DELTA.4-desaturase gene (DES1) having a nucleotide sequence encoding a yeast endoplasmic retic ulum localization signal attached to its 3'-terminus; and 2) causing a loss of the expression of yeast sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene (SUR2) by the tra nsformation of a yeast cell.