Sphingolipid depletion impairs endocytic traffic and inhibits Wingless signaling

- We reduced sphingolipid levels by downregulation of the ceramide synthase schlank.
- Ceramide depletion results in accumulation of Wingless and several other proteins.
- The protein accumulation occurs in the recycling and degradative endocytic route.
- Wingless signaling is reduced, whereas other pathway activities are not changed.
- Thus, ceramide levels influence intracellular protein trafficking and Wg signaling.