SMPD3 (human), recombinant protein

Protein function: Catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to form ceramide and phosphocholine. Ceramide mediates numerous cellular functions, such as apoptosis and growth arrest, and is capable of regulating these 2 cellular events independently. Also hydrolyzes sphingosylphosphocholine. Regulates the cell cycle by acting as a growth suppressor in confluent cells. Probably acts as a regulator of postnatal development and participates in bone and dentin mineralization (PubMed:10823942, PubMed:14741383, PubMed:15051724). Binds to anionic phospholipids (APLs) such as phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA) that modulate enzymatic activity and subcellular location. May be involved in IL-1-beta-induced JNK activation in hepatocytes. May act as a mediator in transcriptional regulation of NOS2/iNOS via the NF-kappa-B activation under inflammatory conditions. [The UniProt Consortium]