ASAH2 — N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2

ASAH2 belongs to a gene co-expression module in 1 of 28 SCUBA cell types. Each module groups genes that rise and fall together in that cell type; the genes it shares a module with are its closest co-expression partners there.

ASAH2's module in each cell type

About the gene

Function

Plasma membrane ceramidase that hydrolyzes sphingolipid ceramides into sphingosine and free fatty acids at neutral pH. 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. Also catalyzes the reverse reaction allowing the synthesis of ceramides from fatty acids and sphingosine. Together with sphingomyelinase, participates in the production of sphingosine and sphingosine-1- phosphate from the degradation of sphingomyelin, a sphingolipid enriched in the plasma membrane of cells. Also participates in the hydrolysis of ceramides from the extracellular milieu allowing the production of sphingosine-1-phosphate inside and outside cells (By similarity). This is the case for instance with the digestion of dietary sphingolipids in the intestinal tract (By similarity).

Human Protein Atlas · Open Targets · UniProt

Gene annotation from the Human Protein Atlas and UniProt; see sources & licences.