Sphingomyelin Quantification Colorimetric Assay Kit

Suitable for quantifying sphingomyelin in serum, plasma, and other biological fluids, and tissue and cell culture samples.

The Sphingomyelin Quantification Assay Kit is a simple and sensitive method for quantifying sphingomyelin. The assay is based on the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin into ceramide and phosphocholine by sphingomyelinase. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) dephosphorylates phosphocholine to choline producing a reaction that generates a colorimetric signal (A570). The assay is sensitive to 1 M of sphingomyelin in a variety of samples.

Sphingomyelin, a sphingolipid consisting of a phospholipid (typically phosphocholine) attached to a ceramide moiety, is a major component of cellular membranes. Sphingomyelin is enriched in the exoplasmic leaflet of the cell membrane. Within the cell membrane, sphingomyelin interacts with cholesterol to form lipid rafts. The metabolism of sphingomyelin contributes to cellular signaling via the release of ceramide, a second messenger that participates in multiple cellular signaling pathways. Sphingomyelin accumulates in Niemann-Pick disease due to deficiencies in sphingomyelinase activity. Increased levels of sphingomyelin is observed in hypercholesterolemia, which is characterized by the accumulation of sphingomyelin in arteriosclerotic lesions resulting in ischemic heart disease.