CERK
Function
Catalyzes specifically the phosphorylation of ceramide to form ceramide 1-phosphate (PubMed:11956206, PubMed:16269826, PubMed:19168031). Acts efficiently on natural and analog ceramides (C6, C8, C16 ceramides, and C8-dihydroceramide), to a lesser extent on C2-ceramide and C6-dihydroceramide, but not on other lipids, such as various sphingosines (PubMed:11956206, PubMed:16269826, PubMed:19168031). Shows a greater preference for D-erythro isomer of ceramides (PubMed:16269826). Binds phosphoinositides (PubMed:19168031).
Tissue Specificity
High level expression in heart, brain, skeletal muscle, kidney and liver; moderate in peripheral blood leukocytes and thymus; very low in spleen, small intestine, placenta and lung.
Cellular localization
- Cytoplasm
- Cell membrane
- Peripheral membrane protein
Alternative names
KIAA1646, CERK, Ceramide kinase, hCERK, Acylsphingosine kinase, Lipid kinase 4, LK4