ceramidase

An enzyme that hydrolyzes ceramides into sphingosine and a fatty acid; acylsphirgosine deacylase. A deficiency of this enzyme is associated with Farber disease.

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cer·am·i·dase (sə-ramґĭ-dās) [EC 3.5.1.23] an enzyme of the hydrolase class that catalyzes the cleavage of a ceramide (N-acylsphingosine) to form sphingosine and a fatty acid anion, a step in the degradation of sphingolipids. Acid, neutral, and alkaline isozymes occur; deficiency of the acid (lysosomal) enzyme, an autosomal recessive trait, results in accumulation of ceramides and gangliosides in Farber disease. Called also acylsphingosine deacylase.