Mouse Beta-glucosidase,B-GLU ELI

Glucosylceramidase that catalyzes, within the lysosomal compartment, the hydrolysis of glucosylceramide/GlcCer into free ceramide and glucose (PubMed:24211208).

Thereby, plays a central role in the degradation of complex lipids and the turnover of cellular membranes (PubMed:27378698).

Through the production of ceramides, participates in the PKC-activated salvage pathway of ceramide formation (By similarity).

Also plays a role in cholesterol metabolism (PubMed:24211208).

May either catalyze the glucosylation of cholesterol, through a transglucosylation reaction that transfers glucose from glucosylceramide to cholesterol (PubMed:24211208).

The short chain saturated C8:0-GlcCer and the mono-unsaturated C18:0-GlcCer being the most effective glucose donors for that transglucosylation reaction (By similarity).

Under specific conditions, may alternatively catalyze the reverse reaction, transferring glucose from cholesteryl-beta-D-glucoside to ceramide (By similarity).

Finally, may also hydrolyze cholesteryl-beta-D-glucoside to produce D-glucose and cholesterol (By similarity).

{ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P04062, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24211208, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27378698}.