n-acetylsphingosine

N-acetylsphingosine, commonly known as C2 ceramide, is a synthetic, cell-permeable analog of natural ceramides that serves as a critical research tool in sphingolipid signaling. As an experimental small molecule, it is widely used to study the biological effects of ceramides on cell growth, differentiation, and programmed cell death. Research indicates that C2 ceramide acts as a potent inducer of apoptosis and neurotoxicity, primarily by activating protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and disrupting the insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathways. In experimental models, exposure to C2 ceramide has been linked to features of neurodegeneration, including the accumulation of amyloid-beta and phosphorylated tau, mimicking the central nervous system abnormalities associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is currently classified as an experimental compound with no approved clinical indications.

Other names

C2 ceramideC-2 ceramideC 2 ceramideN-acetyl-D-erythro-sphingosineN-acetylsphingosineN-[(1R,2R,3E)-2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)heptadec-3-en-1-yl]acetamide