Description
Product Characteristics:
Catalyzes the phosphorylation of sphingosine to form sphingosine 1-phosphate (SPP), a lipid mediator with both intra- and extracellular functions. Also acts on D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine, D-erythro-sphingosine and L-threo-dihydrosphingosine. Binds phosphoinositides.
Subcellular location: Cytoplasm, Cell membrane
Synonyms: SK 2, SK-2, SPK 2, SPK-2, Sphingosine kinase 2, SPHK2
Target Information: This gene encodes one of two sphingosine kinase isozymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of sphingosine into sphingosine 1-phosphate. Sphingosine 1-phosphate mediates many cellular processes including migration, proliferation and apoptosis, and also plays a role in several types of cancer by promoting angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. The encoded protein may play a role in breast cancer proliferation and chemoresistance. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011]