Catalyzes specifically the phosphorylation of ceramide to form ceramide 1-phosphate ( ). 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 ( ). Shows a greater preference for D-erythro isomer of ceramides . Binds phosphoinositides .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cell membrane
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.