A novel biotinylated diazirinyl ceramide analogue for photoaffinity labeling

A novel photoreactive ceramide analogue, which contains (3-trifluoromethyl)phenyldiazirinyl lipid and biotinylated sphingosine, was synthesized. The probe was recognized as an antigen by anti-ceramide antibody and as a substrate for sphingolipid ceramide N-deacylase. These results indicate that the probe may be useful as a photoaffinity-biotinylating agent in sphingolipid studies.