Bifunctional UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE)

Regulates and initiates biosynthesis of N- acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc), a precursor of sialic acids. Plays an important role in early development (By similarity).

Required for normal sialylation in hematopoietic cells. Sialylation is implicated in cell adhesion, signal transduction, tumorigenicity and metastatic behavior of malignant cells.