Sialic acids are components of carbohydrate chains of glycoconjugates and are involved in cell-cell recognition and cell-pathogen interactions. That protein has no CMP-N-acetylneuraminate monooxygenase activity and is not able to convert CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac) into its hydroxylated derivative CMP-N-glycolylneuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Gc), a sialic acid abundantly expressed at the surface of many cells in vertebrates . However, it may play a role in Wnt signaling .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm
May localize to membranes, nucleus and cytoskeleton.
Widely expressed. Highly expressed in thymus. Not expressed in brain. May be expressed in adult stem cells (at protein level) .