HPA-12 is a ceramide (Cer) -trafficking inhibitor that was first discovered and synthesized by Hanada and Kobayashi
et al.
1-3) Ceramide is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is transported to the Golgi apparatus, where it is converted to sphingomyelin, by means of the ceramide transport protein (CERT). HPA-12 inhibits the CERT,
6) and has been used as a CERT inhibitor in various biological science studies.
7-12) For example, HPA-12 possesses antiviral and antibacterial properties against the growth of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the obligate intracellular bacteria
Chlamydiae in cultured human cells.
7,10,11) In addition, the CERT inhibition results in resensitization of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel [
P1632].
8) Meanwhile, a point mutation of CERT gene, which dysregulates the function of CERT,
14) causes a mental retardation disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance.
13) Therefore, inhibition of CERT may represent medical strategies, such as anti-infective and anticancer chemotherapy. (The product is for research purpose only.)