Description
Neutral ceramidase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ASAH2 gene. Ceramidases (EC 3.5.1.23), such as ASAH2, catalyze hydrolysis of the N-acyl linkage of ceramide, a second messenger in a variety of cellular events, to produce sphingosine. Sphingosine exerts both mitogenic and apoptosis-inducing activities, and its phosphorylated form functions as an intra- and intercellular second messenger