Hydrolyzes the sphingolipid ceramide into sphingosine and free fatty acid. Unsaturated long-chain ceramides are the best substrates, saturated long-chain ceramides and unsaturated very long-chain ceramides are good substrates, whereas saturated very long-chain ceramides and short-chain ceramides were poor substrates. The substrate preference is D-erythro-C(18:1)-, C(20:1)-, C(20:4)-ceramide > D-erythro-C(16:0)-, C(18:0), C(20:0)- ceramide > D-erythro-C(24:1)-ceramide > D-erythro-C(12:0)- ceramide, D-erythro-C(14:0)-ceramides > D-erythro-C(24:0)-ceramide > D-erythro-C(6:0)-ceramide. Inhibits the maturation of protein glycosylation in the Golgi complex, including that of integrin beta-1 (ITGB1) and of LAMP1, by increasing the levels of sphingosine. Inhibits cell adhesion by reducing the level of ITGB1 in the cell surface. May have a role in cell proliferation and apoptosis that seems to depend on the balance between sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate.
