SMPD3
Description
The SMPD3 (sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 16.
Neutral Sphingomyelinase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SMPD3 gene.
SMPD3 catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to produce ceramide and phosphocholine. Ceramide plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including apoptosis and growth arrest, and can independently regulate these events. SMPD3 also hydrolyzes sphingosylphosphocholine. It acts as a growth suppressor in confluent cells, regulating the cell cycle. SMPD3 likely contributes to postnatal development and participates in bone and dentin mineralization. It binds to anionic phospholipids (APLs) such as phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA), which influence its enzymatic activity and cellular localization. SMPD3 might be involved in IL-1-beta-induced JNK activation in hepatocytes. It could serve as a mediator in transcriptional regulation of NOS2/iNOS through NF-kappa-B activation under inflammatory conditions.
SMPD3 is also known as NSMASE2.
