Description

• General description: Sphingomyelin (SM) is a principal sphingolipid in mammalian cell membranes. Its biological functions have been studied.[1]
• Application: Sphingomyelin is suitable for use:in the preparation of standard during the enzymatic measurement of plasma sphingomyelin levels[2]to study the binding of Vascular Anticoagulant α (VAC α) to planar phospholipid bilayers[3]to perform fluorescence polarization of PC16 (N-[α-N-palmitoyl-ε-N-(4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-L-lysine]-2-aminoethanol-N- (trimethylaminoethanol) phosphate) in dispersions of co-sonicated lecithin and sphingomyelin[4]for reconstitution of viral ion channel protein M2 into liposomes[5]as a standard sample to define spectral fingerproint using Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)[6]to evaluate the contribution of various phospholipids to the formation of foam in the amniotic fluid[7]
• Biochem/physiol Actions: Sphingomyelin is the second most abundant lipid and major sphingolipid component of HDL and the plasma membrane. It forms cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts. It has a key role in the availability of plasma membrane-free cholesterol.[8]
• Quality: Contains primarily palmitic acid.