Background：Catalyzes the cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid(sialic acid) to form pyruvate and N-acetylmannosamine via a Schiff base intermediate. It prevents sialic acids from being recycled and returning to the cell surface. Involved in the N-glycolylneuraminic acid(Neu5Gc) degradation pathway. Although human is not able to catalyze formation of Neu5Gc due to the inactive CMAHP enzyme, Neu5Gc is present in food and must be degraded(By similarity).
