Catalyzes the removal of sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) moieties from glycoproteins and glycolipids. To be active, it is strictly dependent on its presence in the multienzyme complex. Appears to have a preference for alpha 2-3 and alpha 2-6 sialyl linkage

Interacts with cathepsin A (protective protein), beta-galactosidase and N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase in a multienzyme complex

Highly expressed in pancreas, followed by skeletal muscle, kidney, placenta, heart, lung and liver. Weakly expressed in brain

A C-terminal internalization signal (YGTL) appears to allow the targeting of plasma membrane proteins to endosomes

• Sialidosis (SIALIDOSIS)

  Lysosomal storage disease occurring as two types with various manifestations. Type 1 sialidosis (cherry red spot-myoclonus syndrome or normosomatic type) is late-onset and it is characterized by the formation of cherry red macular spots in childhood, progressive debilitating myoclonus, insiduous visual loss and rarely ataxia. The diagnosis can be confirmed by the screening of the urine for sialyloligosaccharides.

  Type 2 sialidosis (also known as dysmorphic type) occurs as several variants of increasing severity with earlier age of onset. It is characterized by the presence of abnormal somatic features including coarse facies and dysostosis multiplex, vertebral deformities, intellectual disability, cherry-red spot/myoclonus, sialuria, cytoplasmic vacuolation of peripheral lymphocytes, bone marrow cells and conjunctival epithelial cells.