Glucosylceramidase Explained

glucosylceramidase
Ec Number:	3.2.1.45
Cas Number:	37228-64-1
Go Code:	0004348
Width:	270

In enzymology, a glucosylceramidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine + H₂O

\rightleftharpoons D-glucose + N-acylsphingosine

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine and H₂O, whereas its two products are D-glucose and N-acylsphingosine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those glycosidases that hydrolyse O- and S-glycosyl compounds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine glucohydrolase. Other names in common use include:

• psychosine hydrolase,
• glucosphingosine glucosylhydrolase,
• GlcCer-beta-glucosidase,
• beta-D-glucocerebrosidase,
• glucosylcerebrosidase,
• beta-glucosylceramidase,
• ceramide glucosidase,
• glucocerebrosidase,
• glucosylsphingosine beta-glucosidase,
• and glucosylsphingosine beta-D-glucosidase.

This enzyme participates in sphingolipid metabolism and degradation of glycan structures.

Human proteins containing this domain

• GBA belongs to Glycoside hydrolase family 30, GBA2 belongs to Glycoside hydrolase family 116.

Further reading

• Brady RO, Kanfer J, Shapiro D . 1965 . The metabolism of glucocerebrosides: I. Purification and properties of a glucocerebroside-cleaving enzyme from spleen tissue . J. Biol. Chem. . 240 . 39 - 43 . 14253443 .
• Vaccaro AM, Muscillo M, Suzuki K . 1985 . Characterization of human glucosylsphingosine glucosyl hydrolase and comparison with glucosylceramidase . Eur. J. Biochem. . 146 . 315 - 21 . 3967661 . 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1985.tb08655.x . 2 .