Human ASAHL/N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing Acid Amidase Antibody

The human NAAA gene encodes N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase, also known as ASAH-like protein (ASAHL), a fatty acid amidase with maximal activity at acidic pH (1). ASAHL hydrolyzes a number of N-acyl ethanolamines, including N-myristoyl-, N-stearoyl, N-oleoyl, and N-arachidonoyl, but is most active against N‑palmitoylethanolamine (2). ASAHL is a member of the cholylglycine hydrolase family of enzymes, and is structurally similar to acid ceramidase (3). ASAHL is both a lysosomal and a secreted enzyme, and like acid ceramidase, has been observed to be proteolytically processed during maturation (3). ASAHL can be distinguished from anandamide amidohydrolase by its lack of inhibition by methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (2).