ASAH2
ASAH2 (N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2) is the neutral ceramidase, a plasma membrane enzyme that hydrolyses ceramides into sphingosine and free fatty acids at neutral pH. It controls the balance of bioactive sphingolipids that regulate cell signalling. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ASAH2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
ASAH2 is a ceramidase that hydrolyses 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 signalling pathways regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. The enzyme can also run the reverse reaction, synthesising ceramides from fatty acids and sphingosine.
ASAH2 acts together with sphingomyelinase to produce sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate from the breakdown of sphingomyelin, a sphingolipid enriched in the plasma membrane. It also hydrolyses ceramides from the extracellular milieu, so sphingosine-1-phosphate can be produced both inside and outside cells. One example is the digestion of dietary sphingolipids in the intestinal tract. UniProt lists the protein at the cell membrane, membrane rafts and caveolae, the Golgi apparatus membrane and mitochondria, and in a secreted form including extracellular exosomes.
The ASAH2 gene encodes a member of the neutral ceramidase family and is catalogued under EC 3.5.1.23. Its previous HGNC name was N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase (non-lysosomal ceramidase) 2, which distinguishes it from the acid ceramidase ASAH1. NCBI describes ceramide as a second messenger in many cellular events. Sphingosine has both mitogenic and apoptosis-inducing activities, and its phosphorylated form acts as an intra- and intercellular second messenger. Mouse and rat both carry an Asah2 ortholog, so the ASAH2 protein can be studied in common rodent models.
ASAH2 shapes the levels of ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate, lipids that mediate signalling in proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation.
Working with sphingomyelinase, ASAH2 helps generate sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate from sphingomyelin in the plasma membrane.
ASAH2 takes part in hydrolysing extracellular ceramides, as in the digestion of dietary sphingolipids in the intestinal tract.
ASAH2 is found in membrane rafts, caveolae and extracellular exosomes, making it relevant to studies of sphingolipid organisation and secretion.
ASAH2 is a neutral ceramidase. It hydrolyses ceramides into sphingosine and free fatty acids at neutral pH, and it can also catalyse the reverse reaction to synthesise ceramide. This controls levels of bioactive lipids, including sphingosine-1-phosphate, that regulate proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation.
The HGNC name is N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2, and UniProt calls the protein neutral ceramidase. An earlier HGNC name was N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase (non-lysosomal ceramidase) 2. It carries the EC numbers 3.5.1.23 and 3.5.1.-. No alternative gene symbols are listed.
Yes. Mouse and rat both have an ortholog named Asah2, so ASAH2 can be studied in rodent models. ASAH2 is distinct from ASAH1, a separate ceramidase. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ceramidases and sphingolipid-metabolism targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9NR71; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.