Sialidase 2, Cytosolic (SIAL2)

SIAL2 belongs to a family of glycohydrolytic enzymes which remove sialic acid residues from glycoproteins and glycolipids. Expression studies in COS7 cells confirmed that this gene encodes a functional sialidase. Its cytosolic localization was demonstrated by cell fractionation experiments. The 2 putative exons of NEU2 encode a deduced 380-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 42.23 kD. The NEU2 protein has significant homology with the mammalian, viral, and bacterial sialidases. It shares over 72% similarity with the hamster and rat cytosolic sialidases and over 42% similarity with human NEU1. NEU2 contains a potential N-linked glycosylation site, 2 aspartic acid block consensus sequences, and an N-terminal F/YRIP sequence motif which is part of the active site of other sialidase enzymes.