Carboxyl-terminal disulfide bond of acid sphingomyelinase is critical for its secretion and enzymatic function

A study was conducted to explore the structural and functional properties of carboxyl-terminus (amino acids 462-629) from the human acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), protein coded by the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD-1). The results suggest that the carboxyl-terminus of the ASM is crucial for its protein structure which dictates the enzymatic function and secretion.