1. Noun. (enzyme) Any of a group of mammalian lysosomal neuraminidases ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Medical Definition of Sialidase
1. Enzyme catalysing cleavage of neuraminic acid residues from oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids.
Since these residues are usually terminal, neuraminidases are generally exo enzymes, although an endoneuraminidase is known.
For use as a laboratory reagent, common sources are from bacteria such as Vibrio or Clostridium. A neuraminidase is one of the transmembrane proteins of the envelope of influenza virus.
(04 Jul 1999)
