Isolation and Characterization of a Sialidase from the StarfishAsterias rubens

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Abstract
The starfish Asterias rubens contains a soluble sialidase (1.4 mU/mg homogenate protein), which was purified over 500-fold to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and affinity chromatography on immobilized 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydroneuraminic acid. The native sialidase has a molecular mass of 230 kDa (gel filtration) and consists of 4 subunits of each 63 kDa, as determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis. Its isoelectric point is at pH 4.9, the activity is optimum at pH 4.2 and 37.degree. C, and it hydrolyses preferably 4-methylumbelliferyl-.alpha.-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid, followed by sialyllactose and glycoproteins. The hydrolysis rate is decreased or stopped by the presence of O-acetyl groups on the sialic-acid residue to be cleaved. N-Glycoloyl residues also retard enzyme action, as well as .alpha.(2-6) bonds when compared with .alpha.(2-3) linkages. This relatively stable enzyme is inhibited by mercury or copper ions, 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid and by the increase of ionic strength. The evolutionary significance of starfish sialidase is discussed.

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