Sialate O-acetylesterase

In enzymology, a sialate O-acetylesterase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * N-acetyl-O-acetylneuraminate + H2O $$\rightleftharpoons$$ N-acetylneuraminate + acetate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are N-acetyl-O-acetylneuraminate and H2O, whereas its two products are N-acetylneuraminate and acetate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on carboxylic ester bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is N-acyl-O-acetylneuraminate O-acetylhydrolase. Other names in common use include N-acetylneuraminate acetyltransferase, sialate 9(4)-O-acetylesterase, and sialidase.