CERK (ceramide kinase) is a key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism that catalyzes the phosphorylation of ceramide to produce ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P), a bioactive lipid mediator 1. The enzyme shows substrate specificity for natural and analog ceramides, with greater preference for D-erythro isomers, but does not act on other sphingolipids like sphingosines 1. C1P produced by CERK functions as a signaling molecule regulating diverse cellular processes including cell survival, proliferation, and inflammatory responses 2. CERK activity can be measured using fluorescent ceramide analogues, allowing simultaneous assessment of Golgi sphingolipid metabolism 3. Clinically, CERK overexpression correlates with poor outcomes in breast cancer, associating with nodal metastasis, late tumor stage, and drug resistance markers 4. The CERK/C1P pathway also plays protective roles in liver injury by disrupting KEAP1-NRF2 interactions, leading to antioxidant gene activation 5. Additionally, CERK regulates adipogenesis, with exogenous C1P inhibiting pre-adipocyte differentiation through ERK1/2 activation 6. These findings highlight CERK's dual roles in pathological processes and cytoprotective mechanisms, making it a potential therapeutic target.