Cell-cycle-regulated enzyme of importance in nucleotide metabolism. Catalyzes the first enzymatic step in the salvage pathway converting thymidine into thymidine monophosphate. Transcriptional regulation limits expression to the S phase of the cell cycle and transient expression coincides with the oscillation in the intracellular dTTP concentration. ATP + thymidine = ADP + dTMP + H(+) Homotetramer. Tetramerization from dimerization is induced by ATP and increases catalytic efficiency due to a high affinity for thymidine. Tetramerization is inhibited by phosphorylation at Ser-13. Interacts (via the KEN box) with FZR1. KEN box sequence located in the C-terminal region is required for its mitotic degradation by the APC/C-FZR1 ubiquitin ligase and interaction capability with FZR1. Phosphorylated on Ser-13 in mitosis. Phosphorylation of Ser-13 by CDK1 during mitosis reduces homotetramerization and catalytic efficiency when DNA replication is complete and intracellular TK1 is still present at a high level. Polyubiquitinated. Postmitosis, ubiquitination leads to proteasomal degradation. The KEN box sequence located at the C-terminal region targets for degradation by the anaphase promoting complex (APC/C) activated and rate-limited by FZR1. Two forms have been identified in animal cells, one in cytosol and one in mitochondria. Activity of the cytosolic enzyme is high in proliferating cells and peaks during the S-phase of the cell cycle; it is very low in resting cells. Belongs to the thymidine kinase family.