Cleaves phosphorylated sphingoid bases (PSBs), such as sphingosine-1-phosphate, into fatty aldehydes and phosphoethanolamine. Sphingolipid catabolism is required for normal development including viability, reproduction and muscle development. sphinganine 1-phosphate = hexadecanal + phosphoethanolamine Lipid metabolism; sphingolipid metabolism. Localized to the developing gut primordium during embryogenesis. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. Expression is high in early and late embryos, and then again early in metamorphosis, followed by reduction to basal levels after eclosion of adult flies in both males and females. Flies lacking Sply display decreased viability associated with altered nephrocytes morphology. Altered lipid metabolism with accumulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate upstream intermediates is observed. Belongs to the group II decarboxylase family. Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase subfamily.