Phytosphingosine is a sphingolipid endogenous to many organisms involved in cell signaling. Apoptosis is signaled by the presence of Phytosphingosine, with the induction of apoptosis accompanied by activation of caspase-8-mediated and mitochondrial activation-mediated apoptotic pathways. An increase in p38 MAPK phosphorylation is noted upon Phytosphingosine introduction, and a study describes two distinctly different p38 MAPK-mediated apoptotic pathways initiated by Phytosphingosine. The eukaryotic heat shock response also involves signaling with Phytosphingosine for activation of a ubiquitin protein degradation pathway.
