SPIHNGOLIPIDS AND GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS - THEIR SYNTHESES AND BIOACTIVITIES

Chemistry of sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids is discussed with main emphasis on their synthetic methods. Microbial, plant, animal and marine sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids with the following biological roles are treated in this review: (i) inducers of fruiting body formation in Basidiomycetes, (ii) water barrier and supporting material of animal epidermis, and (iii) bioregulators of medicinal interests including immunostimulants.