N-acetylneuraminate lyase（NanA) is a member of a family of lyases， specifically the oxo-acid-lyases， which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. NanA catalyzes the cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid（sialic acid) to form pyruvate and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine. NanA is inhibited by reduction with NaBH4 in the presence of the substrate， which indicates that it belongs to the Schiff-base-forming Class I aldolases. NanA is strongly inhibited by Cu2+ ions， p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-bromosuccinimide， it is also inhibited competitively by the reaction product， pyruvate， and its structurally related compounds， dihydroxyacetone and DL-glyceraldehyde.
