It will also be an important goal to clarify the substrate specificity for each nSMase. Although all of the cloned nSMase proteins possess in vitro N-SMase activity, there is very limited information regarding their substrate preference on various molecular species of SMs (e.g. different acyl-chains). An understanding of the substrate specificity of each nSMase will be essential for the assessment of their metabolic impact on cellular sphingolipid profiles and could provide important information relating to the specific function of each N-SMase and the associated ceramide/SM species that they regulate.
