N-acetylneuraminate lyase (Npl)

Catalyzes the cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid) to form pyruvate and N-acetylmannosamine with a Schiff base intermediate. It prevents sialic acids from being recycled and returning to the cell surface.

Involved from the N- glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) degradation pathway. .