ACe-1
N-[(E)-4-(4-((4-butylphenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)butanoyl]-D-erythro-sphingosine
Ceramide is a pro-apoptotic sphingolipid. Ceramide"s generation can modulate the structure of lipid rafts. ACe-1 is a modified ceramide with an azobenzene moiety to allow for optical control of the N-acyl chain. ACe-1 has been shown to enable the reversible switching of lipid domains in raft-mimicking supported bilayers. Research has shown that in the trans- configuration the ACes are in the liquid-ordered phase and in the cis- configuration the ACes are in the liquid disordered phase in lipid rafts.
James Allen Frank, Henri G. Franquelim, Petra Schwille, and Dirk Trauner. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016 138 (39), 12981-12986. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b07278