Kazuhiro Shiozaki, Koji Yamamoto, Taeko Miyagi
Sialidases are crucial enzymes responsible for the desialylation of gangliosides. In vertebrates, four sialidases-Neu1, Neu2, Neu3, and Neu4-exhibit distinct reactivity profiles toward gangliosides. This study aims to elucidate the physiological roles of ganglioside degradation mediated by these four sialidases, while also providing a comprehensive analysis of the methodologies employed to study their activity. By understanding the specific functions and analytical approaches associated with each sialidase, we can gain insight into their contributions to various physiological phenomena.