N-Acetylmannosamine Kinase/GNE: Proteins and Enzymes

The protein encoded by the GNE gene is a bifunctional enzyme that monitors and begins biosynthesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc). NeuAC is a precursor of sialic acids and functions in early development as sialylation is a component of cell adhesion, signal transduction, and tumorigencity and metastic behavior of malignant cells. The GNE gene has been linked to various diseases such as: myopathy, dementia, glomerulosclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and neuromuscular disease. This protein ...