Abstract

This review mainly focuses on the medical and biological role of relatively poor studied enzymes known as sialidases. Structure and function of sialic acid, particularly as a component of gangliosides and plasma lipoproteins is described. Among the whole variety of sialidases, trans-sialidase is of special interest, since it is capable of removing sialic acid from the low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles and transferring it to different acceptors in plasma. Desialylation of LDL in turn endow them the capacity to accumulate in the smooth muscle cells of human aortic intima, highlighting the important role of desialylation in atherogenesis. Moreover, the relationship between sialidases and virus activity, carcinogenesis, inflammation and other pathologies suggests that the inhibition of this enzyme may have a potential therapeutic implication.