What is the Difference Between Ceramide and Cerebroside

The key difference between ceramide and cerebroside is that ceramide is a complex lipid composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid, while cerebroside is a complex lipid composed of sphingosine, a fatty acid, and a singular sugar residue, which can be either a glucose or galactose.

Lipid is a macromolecule that is soluble in non-polar solvents. The functions of lipids include storing energy, signalling, and acting as a structural component in the cell membranes. Moreover, lipids have various applications in the cosmetic industry, food industry, and nanotechnology. They are mainly classified into two groups: simple lipids and complex lipids. Ceramide and cerebroside are two different types of complex lipids.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ceramide  
3. What is Cerebroside
4. Similarities – Ceramide and Cerebroside
5. Ceramide vs Cerebroside in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ceramide vs Cerebroside

What is Ceramide?

Ceramide is a complex lipid composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid. Normally, ceramides are a family of waxy lipid molecules. It is found in high concentrations within the cell membranes of eukaryotic cells. They are components of lipids that make up sphingomyelin. Sphingomyelin is one of the major lipids in the lipid bilayer. Moreover, ceramides perform different functions in the cell. They mainly support structural elements. In addition, ceramides can participate in a variety of cellular signalling, including regulating differentiation, proliferation, and programmed cell death (PCD) of cells.

Ceramide is a component of vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa is also called birthing custard. It is the waxy white substance found coating the skin of newborn human babies. Furthermore, there are three pathways of ceramide synthesis. The first way is the sphingomyelinase pathway, where an enzyme is used to break down sphingomyelin in the cell membrane. The second pathway is the de novo pathway where ceramides are created from less complex molecules. The third way is the salvage pathway where sphingolipids are broken down into sphingosine and are later reused by reacylation to form ceramide. The roles for ceramide and its downstream metabolites have also been suggested in the number of pathological conditions such as cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, microbial pathogenesis, obesity, and inflammation.

What is Cerebroside?

Cerebroside is a complex lipid that is composed of sphingosine, a fatty acid, and a singular sugar residue, which can be either a glucose or galactose. It is a type of glycosphingolipid. It is an important component in animal muscle and nerve cell membrane. Based on the sugar residue, there are two types of cerebroside: glucocerebroside (has glucose sugar residue) and galactocerebroside (has galactose sugar residue). Generally, galactocerebroside is present in neural tissue, while glucocerebroside is present in other tissues.

Cerebroside does not contain phosphoric acid. The excessive accumulation of cerebroside in the spleen and liver lead to a disease called “Gaucher’s disease.” Gaucher’s disease is due to the accumulation of glucocerebroside. Furthermore, the accumulation of galactocerebroside causes diseases such as Fabry’s disease and Krabbe’s disease.

What are the Similarities Between Ceramide and Cerebroside?

• Ceramide and cerebroside are two different types of complex lipids.
• Both lipids have sphingosine and a fatty acid.
• These lipids can be biosynthesized in the human body.
• Both lipids are associated with diseases.
• They do not have phosphoric acid in the structure.

What is the Difference Between Ceramide and Cerebroside?

Ceramide is a complex lipid made up of sphingosine and a fatty acid, while the cerebroside is a complex lipid made up of sphingosine, a fatty acid, and a singular sugar residue, which can be either a glucose or galactose. Thus, this is the key difference between ceramide and cerebroside. Furthermore, ceramide is not a glycosphingolipid, while cerebroside is a glycosphingolipid.

The below infographic presents the differences between ceramide and cerebroside in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Ceramide vs Cerebroside

Ceramide and cerebroside are two different types of complex lipids. Ceramide is composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid, while the cerebroside is composed of sphingosine, a fatty acid, and a singular sugar residue, which can be either a glucose or galactose. So, this summarises the difference between ceramide and cerebroside.

Reference:

1. “Ceramide.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. “Cerebroside.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “C2-Ceramide” By BQUB19-MJambrina – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Cerebroside” By Epithelyann – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia