Predicted to enable hydrolase activity, acting on glycosyl bonds; metal ion binding activity; and sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase activity. Acts upstream of or within lipid metabolic process and respiratory electron transport chain. Predicted to be located in extracellular region. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Niemann-Pick disease; Niemann-Pick disease type A; and Niemann-Pick disease type B. Orthologous to human SMPD1 (sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1).