Recombinant Mouse Acid ceramidase (Asah1), partial

Function

Lysosomal ceramidase that hydrolyzes sphingolipid ceramides into sphingosine and free fatty acids at acidic pH (PubMed:11829492, PubMed:9653654). Ceramides, sphingosine, and its phosphorylated form sphingosine-1-phosphate are bioactive lipids that mediate cellular signaling pathways regulating several biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation (PubMed:9653654). Has a higher catalytic efficiency towards C12-ceramides versus other ceramides (By similarity). Also catalyzes the reverse reaction allowing the synthesis of ceramides from fatty acids and sphingosine (By similarity). For the reverse synthetic reaction, the natural sphingosine D-erythro isomer is more efficiently utilized as a substrate compared to D-erythro-dihydrosphingosine and D-erythro-phytosphingosine, while the fatty acids with chain lengths of 12 or 14 carbons are the most efficiently used (By similarity). Also has an N-acylethanolamine hydrolase activity (By similarity). By regulating the levels of ceramides, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate in the epidermis, mediates the calcium-induced differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes (By similarity). Also indirectly regulates tumor necrosis factor/TNF-induced apoptosis (PubMed:10974027). By regulating the intracellular balance between ceramides and sphingosine, in adrenocortical cells, probably also acts as a regulator of steroidogenesis (By similarity)

Subcellular Location

Lysosome; Secreted

Tissue Specificity

Widely expressed

Subunit

Heterodimer; disulfide-linked. The heterodimer is composed of the disulfide-linked alpha and beta chains produced by autocatalytic cleavage of the precursor

Pathway

Lipid metabolism; sphingolipid metabolism

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