NEU1 regulates diverse cellular processes through desialylation:
Cleaves sialic acid from lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1), modulating lysosomal exocytosis and extracellular matrix remodeling .
Deficiency disrupts elastin fiber synthesis, impacting vascular and connective tissues .
Part of the elastin receptor complex (ERC) with PPCA and elastin-binding protein (EBP) .
Pharmacological inhibition of NEU1 blocks elastin fiber assembly in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells .
Enhances insulin receptor activation by desialylating its glycan chains.
NEU1-deficient models show impaired AKT phosphorylation, reversible via exogenous NEU1 supplementation .
Acts as a tumor suppressor by desialylating growth factor receptors (e.g., PDGFR, IGFR), reducing mitogenic signaling .
Modulates integrin-mediated adhesion and leukocyte transmigration, with NEU1 inhibitors reducing lymphocyte migration by 40–60% .
Membrane Localization: NEU1’s plasma membrane pool is PPCA-independent, challenging earlier assumptions about its lysosomal exclusivity .
Dimerization: TM2-mediated self-association enhances sialidase activity, with point mutations (e.g., G328I) reducing activity by >50% .
Substrate Specificity: Preferential cleavage of α2,3- and α2,6-linked sialic acids over α2,8 linkages .
Structural Ambiguities: Discrepancies between β-propeller models and transmembrane domain predictions require cryo-EM validation .
Isoform Selectivity: Developing NEU1-specific inhibitors remains challenging due to homology with NEU3/NEU4 .
Clinical Translation: ERT for sialidosis shows promise but faces delivery hurdles across the blood-brain barrier .
Sialidase 1, also known as NEU1, is a lysosomal enzyme that plays a crucial role in the catabolism of sialic acids. Sialic acids are terminal acidic monosaccharides that influence the chemical and biological properties of glycoconjugates. The removal of sialic acids by sialidase modulates various biological processes by altering the conformation and binding sites of functional molecules .
Sialidase 1 belongs to the N-acetyl-α-neuraminidase family and is encoded by the NEU1 gene. It is expressed in many tissues, with high expression in the pancreas and weak expression in the brain . The enzyme is a part of a multienzyme complex that includes Cathepsin A (protective protein), β-galactosidase, and N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase .
Sialidase 1 catalyzes the removal of sialic acid residues from glycoproteins and glycolipids. This enzymatic activity is essential for the proper functioning of lysosomal catabolism. The enzyme has a preference for α2-3 and α2-6 sialyl linkages . The activity of Sialidase 1 is strictly dependent on its presence in the multienzyme complex .