Reaction: S-adenosyl-L-methionine + N-acetylneuraminate = S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + N-acetyl-8-O-methyl-neuraminate
Other name(s): N-acetylneuraminate 8-O-methyltransferase
Systematic name: S-adenosyl-L-methionine:sialate-8-O-methyltransferase
Comments: The enzyme has been isolated from gonads of the starfish Asterias rubens. It methylates N-glycolylneuraminate with equal specificity. Oligosaccharides containing N-acetyl-α-neuraminyl-(2→3)-β-D-galactosyl-(1→3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosyl structures are also methylated.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Bergwerff, A.A., Hulleman, S.H., Kamerling, J.P., Vliegenthart, J.F., Shaw, L., Reuter, G. and Schauer, R. Nature and biosynthesis of sialic acids in the starfish Asterias rubens. Identification of sialo-oligomers and detection of S-adenosyl-L-methionine: N-acylneuraminate 8-O-methyltransferase and CMP-N-acetylneuraminate monooxygenase activities. Biochimie 74 (1992) 25-37. [PMID: 1576206]
2. Kelm, A., Shaw, L., Schauer, R. and Reuter, G. The biosynthesis of 8-O-methylated sialic acids in the starfish Asterias rubens—isolation and characterisation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:sialate-8-O-methyltransferase. Eur. J. Biochem. 251 (1998) 874-884. [PMID: 9490063]