InterPro domain: IPR003329

Synonym(s): CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase

Acylneuraminate cytidylyltransferase ( 2.7.7.43 ) (CMP-NeuAc synthetase) catalyzes the reaction of CTP and NeuAc to form CMP-NeuAc, which is the nucleotide sugar donor used by sialyltransferases [ 1 ]. The outer membrane lipooligosaccharides of some microorganisms contain terminal sialic acid attached to N-acetyllactosamine and so this modification may be important in pathogenesis.

This family also includes 8-amino-3,8-dideoxy-manno-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase found in the bacterial genus Shewanella, which is important in the development of the outer cell membrane and converts 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid to 8-amino-3,8-dideoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO8N) for incorporation into the lipopolysaccharide [ 2 ].

1. Purification, cloning, and expression of a cytidine 5'-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase from Haemophilus ducreyi. J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15373-80
2. The origin of 8-amino-3,8-dideoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo8N) in the lipopolysaccharide of Shewanella oneidensis. J. Biol. Chem. 288, 9216-25