Table 1.

Diverse biological roles of Ceramide Synthases 1-6.

Ceramide Synthase isoform	Ceramide product	Biological Role
Ceramide Synthase 1	C18-ceramide	Induces cancer cell death [34] Decreases tumor growth [35] CerS1 mutant mice have neurological disorders [42]
Ceramide Synthase 2	C22-24- ceramide	C24-ceramide can protect from cell death [40,41] CerS2 knockout mice exhibit liver damage [44]
Ceramide Synthase 3	Ultra long chain ceramides >C26	CerS3 knockout leads to trans-epidermal water loss leading to death after birth [203]
Ceramide Synthase 4	C18- and C20-ceramide	CerS4 knockout mice exhibit severe alopecia with alterations in sebaceous glands and sebum contents [43]
Ceramide Synthase 5	C12-, C14., and C16-ceramide	Implicated in induction of autophagy mediated hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes [204]
Ceramide Synthase 6	C12-, C14-, and C16- ceramide	Increases cancer cell proliferation [38] Increased expression associates with positive lymph node status [39] Induces chemotherapy mediated apoptosis [41] CerS6 knockout mice exhibit neurological/behavioral alterations [205]