Sphinganine is a chemical compound of the sphingolipid class with molecular formula . Via the action of sphingosine kinase enzymes, it is converted to dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate (sphinganine 1-phosphate), which has a variety of biological functions.
Sphinganine is one of many sphingoid bases (long-chain bases) besides sphingosine, which are backbones of sphingolipids. It is made by dehydrogenating 3-ketosphinganine, which is produced by condensation reaction of serine with palmitate. It is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of ceramide.
Sphinganine is a diastereomer of safingol.