ACER3
ACER3 (alkaline ceramidase 3) is an endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membrane enzyme that hydrolyses unsaturated long-chain ceramides into sphingoid bases and free fatty acids. It is also known as APHC, PHCA and FLJ11238, and belongs to the alkaline ceramidase family. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ACER3 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
ACER3 catalyses the hydrolysis of unsaturated long-chain C18:1-, C20:1- and C20:4-ceramides, dihydroceramides and phytoceramides into sphingoid bases such as sphingosine and free fatty acids, working at alkaline pH. Ceramides, sphingosine and its phosphorylated form, sphingosine-1-phosphate, are bioactive lipids that mediate cellular signalling pathways regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. By controlling their balance, the ACER3 enzyme sits at a key point in sphingolipid metabolism.
The protein is located in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and the Golgi apparatus membrane. Annotated molecular activities include N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase activity, together with calcium ion binding and zinc ion binding. The ACER3 gene is classed by HGNC in the alkaline ceramidases group, and the mouse ortholog is Acer3. Its previous names include phytoceramidase, alkaline.
Functional annotation links ACER3 to several physiological contexts. It controls the generation of sphingosine in erythrocytes, and thereby sphingosine-1-phosphate in plasma. Through regulation of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate homeostasis in the brain, it may play a role in neuronal survival and function, and it is involved in myelination. By regulating pro-inflammatory ceramides in immune cells and tissues, it may modulate the inflammatory response. ACER3 has also been described as a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.
ACER3 hydrolyses unsaturated long-chain ceramides, dihydroceramides and phytoceramides, making it a useful focus for studying how ceramide and sphingosine levels are controlled.
Through ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate homeostasis in the brain, ACER3 may contribute to neuronal survival and function and is implicated in myelination.
By regulating pro-inflammatory ceramides in immune cells and tissues, ACER3 may modulate the inflammatory response.
ACER3 is described as a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, supporting its study in liver disease.
ACER3 is an endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi ceramidase that hydrolyses unsaturated long-chain ceramides, dihydroceramides and phytoceramides into sphingoid bases such as sphingosine and free fatty acids at alkaline pH. It controls sphingosine generation in erythrocytes and thereby plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate.
ACER3 is the HGNC symbol for alkaline ceramidase 3. Aliases and previous symbols include APHC, PHCA and FLJ11238, and the previous name was phytoceramidase, alkaline. It is listed under EC 3.5.1.- and 3.5.1.23 and belongs to the alkaline ceramidase family.
ACER3 has been described as a biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. A mouse ortholog, Acer3, exists. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ceramidases, sphingolipid-metabolism enzymes and sphingosine-1-phosphate signalling targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9NUN7; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.