ASAH2 Proteins

Protein Information

Sphingolipids are hydrolyzed by ceramidases to yield sphingosine and fatty acids. These ceramidases are classified according to the pH range that supports their optimal activity. ASAH2 is a neutral ceramidase and key regulator of sphingolipid signaling metabolites at the cell surface, catalyzing the hydrolysis of the N-acyl linkage of ceramide at an optimal pH of 6.5-8.5. ASAH2 is a type II integral membrane protein that can be cleaved to yield a soluble secreted protein and acts as a repressor of apoptosis both by reducing C16-ceramide, thereby preventing ceramide-induced apoptosis, and generating sphingosine. Sphingosine exerts both mitogenic and apoptosis-inducing activities, and its phosphorylated form functions as an intra- and intercellular second messenger. ASAH2 is ubiquitously expressed primarily expressed with higher levels in the intestine, kidney, skeletal muscle and heart. Recent studies indicate that ASAH2 encoded neutral ceramidase is a key enzyme for the catabolism of dietary sphingolipids and regulates the levels of bioactive sphingolipid metabolites in the intestinal tract.

Synonyms

acylsphingosine deacylase 2; AI585898; Asah2; BCDase; hCD; HNAC1; LCDase; mitochondrial ceramidase; N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase (non-lysosomal ceramidase) 2; N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2; NCDase; N-CDase; Neutral ceramidase; Neutral ceramidase soluble form; neutral/alkaline ceramidase; non-lysosomal ceramidase