title: Sphingosine kinases: a novel family of lipid kinases.
abstract: Sphingosine kinase (SPHK) catalyzes the formation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S11). S1P plays an important role in regulation of a variety of biological processes through intracellular and extracellular actions. S1P has recently been shown to be the ligand for the EDG-1 family of G-protein-coupled receptors. To date, seven cloned SPHKs have been reported with confirmed SPHK activity, including human, mouse, yeast, and plant. A computer search of various databases suggests that a new SPHK family is emerging. The cloning and manipulation of SPHK genes will no doubt provide us with important information about the functions of S1P in a wide range of organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Debyani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chakravarty
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maceyka
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milstien
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spiegel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D006801:Humans; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D008322:Mammals; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase
chemical_list: D008246:Lysophospholipids; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D013110:Sphingosine; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase; C060506:sphingosine 1-phosphate