Ethanolamine kinase 1 (ETNK1)

Ethanolamine kinase 1 (ETNK1) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the first, rate-limiting phosphorylation step of the CDP–ethanolamine (Kennedy) pathway, crucial for synthesizing phosphatidylethanolamine—a core structural phospholipid in membranes. ETNK1 is highly specific for ethanolamine and essential for maintaining membrane lipid homeostasis and mitochondrial function. In cancer, particularly myeloid malignancies, recurrent ETNK1 missense mutations in its kinase domain (notably N244S, H243Y) impair its activity, leading to reduced intracellular phosphoethanolamine, mitochondrial hyperactivation, increased ROS, and DNA damage that fuel disease progression. Altered ETNK1 expression or function also correlates with invasive properties in solid tumors and influences chemotherapeutic response, highlighting its emerging role as a potential therapeutic target and oncogenic driver.

Other names

EKI1EKI 1EKINbla10396putative protein product of Nbla10396

For research agents: Modulation of ETNK1 activity affects phospholipid synthesis, which in turn regulates mitochondrial activity and ROS production; ETNK1 loss or mutation enhances mitochondrial hyperactivation and mutator phenotype, reversible by phosphoethanolamine supplementation