Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Phosphatase 1 (SGPP1)

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that regulates diverse biologic processes. SGPP1 catalyzes the degradation of S1P via salvage and recycling of sphingosine into long-chain ceramides .The deduced 430-amino acid mouse protein shares 17% amino acid identity with yeast Lbp1. The deduced 441-amino acid protein shares 76% amino acid identity with its mouse homolog. Transfection of HEK293 or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with SGPP1 resulted in marked increase in SGPP1 activity in membrane fractions. SGPP1 was highly specific toward long-chain sphingoid base phosphates and degraded S1P, dihydro-S1P, and phyto-S1P. SGPP1 activity was independent of any cation requirements, including Mg(2+), and was not inhibited by EDTA but was inhibited by Zn(2+).