Merck, S0756-500MG, Sphingomyelin

General description
Sphingomyelin (SM) is a principal sphingolipid in mammalian cell membranes. Its biological functions have been studied.
Application
Sphingomyelin is suitable for use:
in the preparation of standard during the enzymatic measurement of plasma sphingomyelin levels
to study the binding of Vascular Anticoagulant α (VAC α) to planar phospholipid bilayers
to perform fluorescence polarization of PC16 (N-[α-N-palmitoyl-ε-N-(4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-L-lysine]-2-aminoethanol-N- (trimethylaminoethanol) phosphate) in dispersions of co-sonicated lecithin and sphingomyelin
for reconstitution of viral ion channel protein M2 into liposomes
as a standard sample to define spectral fingerproint using Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)
to evaluate the contribution of various phospholipids to the formation of foam in the amniotic fluid

Biochem/physiol Actions
Sphingomyelin is the second most abundant lipid and major sphingolipid component of HDL and the plasma membrane. It forms cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts. It has a key role in the availability of plasma membrane-free cholesterol.
Analysis Note
Contains primarily palmitic acid.