Bile salt hydrolase that catalyzes the deconjugation of glycine- and taurine-linked bile salts, which occurs naturally in the intestines of humans, releasing amino acid residues and deconjugated bile salts (bile acids). Can hydrolyze the amid bond in major human bile salts, such as glycocholate (GCA), taurocholate (TCA) and taurodeoxycholate (TDCA) (PubMed:7618863, PubMed:15823032). Shows a slight preference for taurine-conjugated bile acids as substrates (PubMed:7618863). glycocholate + H2O = cholate + glycine cholate + taurine = H2O + taurocholate H2O + taurodeoxycholate = deoxycholate + taurine glycodeoxycholate + H2O = deoxycholate + glycine chenodeoxycholate + glycine = glycochenodeoxycholate + H2O H2O + taurochenodeoxycholate = chenodeoxycholate + taurine Optimum pH is 5.5. Lipid metabolism; bile acid biosynthesis. Homotetramer (PubMed:7618863, PubMed:15823032). The tetramer consists of a dimer of dimers (PubMed:15823032). Cells lacking this gene continue to express conjugated bile acid hydrolase activity at 86% of wild-type levels. Belongs to the peptidase C59 family.