Hydroxylation state of fatty acid and long-chain base moieties of sphingolipid determine the sensitivity to growth inhibition due to AUR1 repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

► We investigated physiological significance of hydroxylation of sphingolipid in yeast. ► Defect of sphingolipid hydroxylase gene alters sensitivity of cells to AUR1 repression. ► Two hydroxylase genes, SUR2 and SCS7, have different effect to the sensitivity. ► It is suggested that the hydroxylation states of ceramide determine its toxicity.