serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) complex

Function

• lipid metabolism; sphingolipid metabolism
• serine palmitoyltransferase
• the heterodimer formed with SPTLC2 or SPTLC3 constitutes the catalytic core
• the composition of the serine palmitoyltransferase complex determines the substrate preference
• the SPTLC1-SPTLC2-SPTSSA complex shows a strong preference for C16-CoA substrate, while the SPTLC1-SPTLC3-SPTSSA isozyme uses both C14-CoA & C16-CoA as substrates, with a slight preference for C14-CoA
• the SPTLC1-SPTLC2-SPTSSB complex shows a strong preference for C18-CoA substrate, while the SPTLC1-SPTLC3-SPTSSB isozyme displays an ability to use a broader range of acyl-CoAs, without apparent preference

Structure

• subunits include:
  • SPTLC1,
  • either SPTLC2 or SPTLC3,
  • either SSSPTA or SSSPTB

More general terms

• molecular complex