sphingolipid

The amino alcohol found in sphingomyelin is called sphingosine. It is a component of the sphingolipid family and plays a key role in the formation of cell membranes.

Sphingomyelin (SPH) is a type of sphingolipid found in animal cell membranes, especially in the membranous myelin sheath that surrounds some nerve cell axons. It usually consists of phosphorylcholine and ceramide. In humans SPH represents ~85% of all sphingolipids.

Wow! Millions of things. Fur, wool, wood, iron, meat, leather, oil, lard, butter, lanolin. You could go on for ever.

Some more: arsenic, strychnine, cyanide, hemlock, glycoalkaloids, patulin, algal toxins, mycotoxins, domoic acid, fumonisins, sphingolipid, sphinganine, sphingosine, aflatoxin, ochratoxin, zearalenone.

It sure could go on for ever!

Tay-Sachs disease happens because a fatty substance in the child's brain builds up to toxic levels and affects the child's nerve cells. The disease occurs when harmful quantities of cell membrane components known as gangliosides accumulate in the brain's nerve cells, eventually leading to the premature death of the cells. A ganglioside is a form of sphingolipid, which makes Tay-Sachs disease a member of the sphingolipidoses. There is no known cure or treatment.