ENPP7

The protein encoded by this gene is an intestinal alkaline sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase that converts sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphocholine. The encoded protein is anchored in the cell membrane, and it may function to protect the intestinal mucosa from inflammation and tumorigenesis. This protein is glycosylated and also exhibits lysophosphatidylcholine hydrolase activity. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2016]

Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase/Phosphodiesterase 7

Choline-specific phosphodiesterase that hydrolyzes sphingomyelin releasing the ceramide and phosphocholine and therefore is involved in sphingomyelin digestion, ceramide formation, and fatty acid (FA) absorption in the gastrointestinal tract (PubMed:12885774, PubMed:12671034, PubMed:15205117, PubMed:16255717, PubMed:28292932).

Has also phospholipase C activity and can also cleave phosphocholine from palmitoyl lyso-phosphatidylcholine and platelet-activating factor (PAF) leading to its inactivation (PubMed:16255717, PubMed:12885774).

Does not have nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity (PubMed:12885774).

May promote cholesterol absorption by affecting the levels of sphingomyelin derived from either diet or endogenous sources, in the intestinal lumen (By similarity).

Fatty acid homeostasis Source: UniProtKB
Glycosphingolipid metabolic process Source: Reactome
Lipid digestion Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of cell population proliferation Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of DNA replication Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of ceramide biosynthetic process Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of intestinal cholesterol absorption Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of sphingomyelin catabolic process Source: UniProtKB
Regulation of intestinal lipid absorption Source: UniProtKB
Sphingomyelin catabolic process Source: InterPro
Sphingomyelin metabolic process Source: UniProtKB

Cell membrane. The catalytic domain is released into the extracellular medium when cells are treated with trypsin (PubMed:15205117). Localized at the surface of the microvillar membrane in small intestine enterocytes, and in endosome-like structures situated beneath the microvillar membrane, and in Golgi complex (PubMed:12671034, PubMed:12885774).

Extracellular: 22-433
Helical: 434-454
Cytoplasmic: 455-458

N-glycosylated; required for activity and transport to the plasma membrane.