12:0(2R-OH) Ceramide 860811 N-(2'-(R)-hydroxylauroyl)-D-erythro-sphingosine

Ceramides containing 2-hydroxy fatty acids (hFA) are found primarily in the nervous system, epidermis and kidney, as well as various other organs and tumors. These hFA-sphingolipids play a role in cell adhesion, signaling and membrane trafficking (Alderson and Hama, 2009). Synthesis of hFA-ceramides requires fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H). Mutations of this key enzyme are associated with the nervous system disorders leukodystrophy and spastic paraparesis in humans (Hama, 2010). hFA-sphingolipids in the epidermis are required for the permeability barrier the epidermis provides. hFA-sphingolipids are involved in stabilizing these specialized cell membranes and regulating the cell cycle (Alderson and Hama, 2009). The mechanism of action for an antitumor drug involves hFAceramides in the cell membrane (Herrero et al, 2008).