An enzyme catalyzing hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to N-acylsphingosine (a ceramide) and phosphocholine; a deficiency of this enzyme is associated with type I Niemann-Pick disease. SYN: sphingomyelinase.
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sphin·go·my·elin phos·pho·di·es·ter·ase (sfing″go-miґə-lin fos″fo-di-esґtər-ās) [EC 3.1.4.12] an enzyme of the hydrolase class that catalyzes the cleavage of sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylated choline in the major pathway for sphingomyelin degradation. Deficiency of the enzyme, an autosomal recessive trait, causes Niemann-Pick disease. Called also sphingomyelinase.Medical dictionary. 2011.