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Angshumoy Roy, Yi-Nan Lin, Martin M. Matzuk
Published in Volume 116, Issue 11
J Clin Invest. 2006; 116(11):2860–2863 doi:10.1172/JCI30221
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Figure 1
Schematic showing subcellular localization and functions of enzymes involved in glucosylceramide metabolism.

Top inset: GBA2 hydrolyzes the glucose moiety from glucosylceramides (GlcCer) at the neutral pH of the ER lumen. A nonlysosomal glucosylceramidase (likely GBA2) is inhibited by NB-DNJ. Middle inset: UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) on the Golgi surface synthesizes glucosylceramide and is inhibited by NB-DNJ. After synthesis, glucosylceramide is flipped back into the Golgi lumen. Bottom inset: Glucosylceramides phagocytosed into the cell are normally degraded in the acidic pH of the lysosome by GBA. The phenotypes of Gba- and Gba2-null mice are described at right.