Target Name: NPL
NCBI ID: G80896
Other Name(s): Sialic acid aldolase | sialate-pyruvate lyase | C1orf13 | N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase (dihydrodipicolinate synthase) | N-acetylneuraminic acid lyase | MGC149582 | Sialic acid lyase | N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate-lyase | N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate-lyase (N-acetyl-D-mannosamine-forming) | C112 | sialic acid aldolase | N-acetylneuraminic aldolase | N-acetylneuraminate aldolase | Sialate-pyruvate lyase | NPL1 | N-acetylneuraminate lyase (isoform 1) | OTTHUMP00000033259 | Acetylneuraminate lyase | dihydrodipicolinate synthetase homolog 1 | MGC61869 | Neuraminic aldolase | NAL | N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase | NPL_HUMAN | N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase | N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase, transcript variant 1 | Acetylneuraminate pyruvate-lyase | N-acetylneuraminate lyase | NALase | Neuraminate aldolase | sialic aldolase | NPL variant 1 | Neuraminic acid aldolase | NANA lyase | Sialate lyase | Dihydrodipicolinate synthase

Sialic Acid Aldolase: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker

Sialic acid aldolase (NPL) is a protein that is expressed in many different tissues throughout the body, including the brain, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. It is a key enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of sialic acid, which is a type of carbohydrate found on the surface of many different cell types in the body.

One of the unique features of NPL is its ability to break down sialic acid, which is essential for the normal function of many different cell types. Sialic acid plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the immune system, as well as the formation of healthy tissue surfaces.

Recent studies have identified NPL as a potential drug target and biomarker for a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. This is because NPL is often overexpressed or mutated in these conditions, which can lead to the breakdown of healthy tissue surfaces and the development of harmful aggregates that can cause a range of symptoms.

One of the key advantages of targeting NPL is that it is a relatively small molecule that can be easily administered to patients. This makes it a promising target for drug development, as it is relatively simple to synthesize and transport to the body.

In addition, NPL is a good candidate for an enzyme-based diagnostic test, such as a reverse transcription polymerase (RT-PCR) assay or a protein array. This is because it is highly expressed in many different tissues and cells, and its expression can be easily detected and quantified.

Sialic acid aldolase has also been identified as a potential biomarker for a variety of diseases, including cancer. This is because it is often overexpressed or mutated in these conditions, which can lead to the breakdown of healthy tissue surfaces and the development of harmful aggregates. For example, studies have shown that NPL is often overexpressed in many different types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

In addition, NPL has also been shown to be involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This is because it is often overexpressed or mutated in these conditions, which can lead to the breakdown of healthy tissue surfaces and the development of harmful aggregates.

Overall, sialic acid aldolase (NPL) is a protein that is involved in the metabolism of sialic acid, which is a crucial carbohydrate for the development and maintenance of many different cell types in the body. Its unique ability to break down sialic acid and its potential as a drug target and biomarker make it an attractive target for further research and development.

Protein Name: N-acetylneuraminate Pyruvate Lyase

Functions: Catalyzes the cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid) to form pyruvate and N-acetylmannosamine via a Schiff base intermediate (PubMed:33895133). It prevents sialic acids from being recycled and returning to the cell surface (PubMed:33895133). Involved in the N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) degradation pathway (PubMed:22692205, PubMed:33895133). 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 (Probable)

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NPLOC4 | NPM1 | NPM1P13 | NPM1P21 | NPM1P22 | NPM1P25 | NPM1P27 | NPM1P28 | NPM1P35 | NPM1P42 | NPM1P47 | NPM1P48 | NPM2 | NPM3 | NPNT | NPPA | NPPA-AS1 | NPPB | NPPC | NPR1 | NPR2 | NPR3 | NPRL2 | NPRL3 | NPS | NPSR1 | NPSR1-AS1 | NPTN | NPTN-IT1 | NPTX1 | NPTX2 | NPTXR | NPVF | NPW | NPY | NPY1R | NPY2R | NPY4R | NPY4R2 | NPY5R | NPY6R | NQO1 | NQO2 | NR0B1 | NR0B2 | NR1D1 | NR1D2 | NR1H2 | NR1H3 | NR1H4 | NR1I2 | NR1I3 | NR2C1 | NR2C2 | NR2C2AP | NR2E1 | NR2E3 | NR2F1 | NR2F1-AS1 | NR2F2 | NR2F2-AS1 | NR2F6 | NR3C1 | NR3C2 | NR4A1 | NR4A2 | NR4A3 | NR5A1 | NR5A2 | NR6A1 | NRAD1 | NRADDP | NRAP | NRARP | NRAS | NRAV | NRBF2 | NRBF2P4 | NRBP1 | NRBP2 | NRCAM | NRDC | NRDE2 | NREP | NRF1 | NRG1 | NRG2 | NRG3 | NRG4 | NRGN | NRIP1 | NRIP2 | NRIP3 | NRIP3-DT | NRIR | NRK | NRL | NRM | NRN1 | NRN1L