METHODS FOR PRODUCING CERAMIDE USING TRANSFORMED YEAST

1 . A method for producing human ceramide in a yeast cell, comprising:

1) introducing the sphingoid Δ4-desaturase gene (DES1) by transformation of the yeast cell; and

2) abolishing the expression of the yeast sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene (SUR2) by transformation of the yeast cell.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the sphingoid Δ4-desaturase gene (DES1) has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence obtained by deletion, addition or substitution of one or more amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 2, and encodes a protein having sphingoid Δ4-desaturase activity.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the yeast sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene (SUR2) has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 or amino acid sequence obtained by deletion, addition or substitution of one or more amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 6, and encodes a protein having sphinganine C4-hydroxylase activity.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising abolishing the expression of the yeast sphingolipid α-hydroxylase gene (SCS7) by transformation of the yeast cell.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the yeast sphingolipid α-hydroxylase gene has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 or an amino acid sequence obtained by deletion, addition or substitution of one or more amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 8, and encodes a protein having sphingolipid α-hydroxylase activity.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising abolishing the expression of the yeast alkaline dihydroceramidase gene (YDC1) by transformation of the yeast cell.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the yeast alkaline dihydroceramidase gene (YDC1) has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or an amino acid sequence obtained by deletion, addition or substitution of one or more amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 10, and encodes a protein having alkaline dihydroceramidase activity.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising enhancing the expression of the yeast inositol phosphosphigolipid phospholipase C gene (ISC1) by transformation of the yeast cell.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the yeast inositol phosphosphingolipid phospholipase C gene (ISC1) has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or an amino acid sequence obtained by deletion, addition or substitution of one or more amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 4, and encodes a protein having inositol phosphosphingolipid phospholipase C activity.

10 . A method for producing human ceramide in a yeast cell, comprising:

1) introducing the sphingoid Δ4-desaturase gene (DES1) by transformation of the yeast cell;

2) abolishing the expression of the yeast sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene (SUR2) by transformation of the yeast cell;

3) abolishing the expression of the yeast sphingolipid α-hydroxylase gene (SCS7) by transformation of the yeast cell;

4) abolishing the expression of the yeast alkaline dihydroceramidase gene (YDC1) by transformation of the yeast cell; and

5) enhancing the expression of the yeast inositol phosphosphingolipid phospholipase C gene (ISC1) by transformation of the yeast cell.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the yeast is selected from yeast species of the genus Saccharomyces.