Neutral cytosolic beta-glycosidase with a broad substrate specificity that could play a role in the catabolism of glycosylceramides (  , ). Has a significant glucosylceramidase activity in vitro (, ). However, that activity is relatively low and its significance in vivo is not clear ( ). Hydrolyzes galactosylceramides/GalCers, glucosylsphingosines/GlcSphs and galactosylsphingosines/GalSphs . However, the in vivo relevance of these activities is unclear . It can also hydrolyze a broad variety of dietary glycosides including phytoestrogens, flavonols, flavones, flavanones and cyanogens in vitro and could therefore play a role in the metabolism of xenobiotics . Possesses transxylosylase activity in vitro using xylosylated ceramides/XylCers (such as beta-D-xylosyl-(1<->1')-N-acylsphing-4-enine) as xylosyl donors and cholesterol as acceptor . Could also play a role in the catabolism of cytosolic sialyl free N-glycans .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytosol
Present in small intestine (at protein level). Expressed in liver, small intestine, colon, spleen and kidney. Down-regulated in renal cell carcinomas and hepatocellular carcinomas.