SPHK1
SPHK1 (sphingosine kinase 1, also known as SPHK) is a lipid kinase that catalyses the phosphorylation of sphingosine to form sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid mediator with both intracellular and extracellular functions. It also acts as a serine acetyltransferase on PTGS2/COX2. Browse Assay Genie's current range of SPHK1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
SPHK1 catalyses the phosphorylation of sphingosine to produce sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P acts on two levels. Inside the cell it regulates proliferation and survival. Outside the cell it is a ligand for cell surface G protein-coupled receptors. The enzyme and its product S1P play a key role in TNF-alpha signalling and in the NF-kappa-B activation pathway, which matters for inflammatory, antiapoptotic and immune processes.
The SPHK1 enzyme is regulated by phosphorylation, which alters its catalytic activity and promotes its translocation to the plasma membrane. UniProt records the protein in the cytoplasm, nucleus, cell membrane, endosome membrane, clathrin-coated pits and synapse. The human SPHK1 gene belongs to the HGNC sphingosine kinase family, and alternative splicing gives multiple transcript variants that encode different isoforms. Mouse and rat each have an orthologous Sphk1 gene.
SPHK1 also has a second, less familiar activity. It has serine acetyltransferase activity on PTGS2/COX2 in an acetyl-CoA dependent manner, and this activity increases in the presence of the kinase substrate sphingosine. During neuroinflammation, PTGS2 acetylation promotes neuronal secretion of specialised preresolving mediators, especially 15-R-lipoxin A4, which increases the number of phagocytic microglia. SPHK1 is therefore a point where lipid signalling meets inflammatory regulation, and the SPHK1 gene and its protein are studied in sphingolipid biology, inflammation and immunity. SPHK2 is a related sphingosine kinase.
SPHK1 converts sphingosine to S1P, a lipid mediator that acts inside cells and as a ligand for cell surface G protein-coupled receptors.
SPHK1 and S1P play a key role in TNF-alpha signalling and NF-kappa-B activation, central to inflammatory and immune processes.
Intracellular S1P produced by SPHK1 regulates proliferation and survival, with antiapoptotic processes linked to the enzyme's signalling role.
Through PTGS2 acetylation, SPHK1 promotes neuronal release of preresolving mediators such as 15-R-lipoxin A4, increasing phagocytic microglia.
SPHK1 catalyses the phosphorylation of sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P regulates proliferation and survival inside cells and acts as a ligand for G protein-coupled receptors outside them. SPHK1 also acetylates PTGS2/COX2 on serine, which links it to neuroinflammation.
The HGNC symbol is SPHK1, the full name is sphingosine kinase 1, and SPHK is a previous alias. NCBI Gene reports that alternative splicing produces multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms, so check which isoform a reagent recognises.
Yes. Mouse and rat both have an orthologous Sphk1 gene, so SPHK1 can be studied in common rodent models. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
The related sphingosine kinase SPHK2 and other sphingolipid and inflammation targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9NYA1; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.