METHOD FOR PRODUCING CERAMIDE IN TRANSFORMED CELLS USING THE SPHINGOLIPID-.DELTA.4-DESATURASE ATTACHED WITH AN ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM LOCALIZATION SIGNAL

摘要

Disclosed is a method for producing human ceramide in a cell such as a yeast cell. The method comprises the following steps 1) and 2): 1) introducing a gene (DES1m) for sphingolipid .DELTA.4-desaturase having an endoplasmic reticulum localization signal attached thereto by the transformation of a yeast cell, wherein the gene (DES1m) comprises sphingolipid .DELTA.4-desaturase gene (DES1) having a nucleotide sequence encoding a yeast endoplasmic reticulum localization signal attached to its 3'-terminus; and 2) causing a loss of the expression of yeast sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene (SUR2) by the transformation of a yeast cell.