Hydrolyzes the galactose ester bonds of glycolipids such as galactosylceramide and galactosylsphingosine (PubMed:8281145, PubMed:8399327). Enzyme with very low activity responsible for the lysosomal catabolism of galactosylceramide, a major lipid in myelin, kidney and epithelial cells of small intestine and colon (PubMed:8281145, PubMed:8399327). a beta-D-galactosyl-(1<->1')-N-acylsphing-4-enine + H2O = an N-acylsphing-4-enine + D-galactose beta-D-galactosyl-(1<->1)-sphing-4-enine + H2O = D-galactose + sphing-4-enine a D-galactosylceramide + H2O = an N-acyl-sphingoid base + D-galactose Optimum pH is 4.0-4.4. Activity is lost after heating at 52 degrees Celsius for five minutes. Detected in urine. Detected in testis, brain and placenta (at protein level). Detected in kidney and liver. Polymorphic amino-acid changes are responsible for the wide range of catalytic activities found in the general population. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 59 family. It is uncertain whether Met-1 or Met-17 is the initiator. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus. Probable intron retention. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus.