Bacillus cereus sphingomyelinase recognizes ganglioside GM3

► Bc-SMase binds to ganglioside GM3. ► The β-hairpin of Bc-SMase plays an important role in binding to GM3. ► Trp284 and Phe285 at the β-hairpin are essential for the binding to GM3. ► Bc-SMase requires a sialic acid of gangliosides for membrane binding.