CMAS (gene)
N-acylneuraminate cytidylyltransferase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CMAS gene.Function
The enzyme encoded by this gene catalyzes the activation of Neu5Ac to Cytidine 5-prime-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid, which provides the substrate required for the addition of sialic acid. Sialic acids of cell surface glycoproteins and glycolipids play a pivotal role in the structure and function of animal tissues. The pattern of cell surface sialylation is highly regulated during embryonic development, and changes with stages of differentiation. Studies of a similar murine protein suggest that this protein localizes to the nucleus.
