InterPro: IPR004124 Glycoside hydrolase, family 33, N-terminal

O-Glycosyl hydrolases EC:3.2.1. are a widespread group of enzymes that hydrolyse the glycosidic bond between two or more carbohydrates, or between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety. A classification system for glycosyl hydrolases, based on sequence similarity, has led to the definition of 85 different families [1, 2, 3]. This classification is available on the CAZy (CArbohydrate-Active EnZymes) web site [4]. Because the fold of proteins is better conserved than their sequences, some of the families can be grouped in clans.

Sialidases (GH33) hydrolyse alpha-(2->3)-, alpha-(2->6)-, alpha-(2->8)-glycosidic linkages of terminal sialic residues in oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, colominic acid and synthetic substrates. Sialidases may act as pathogenic factors in microbial infections [5].

The 1.8 A structure of trans-sialidase from leech (Macrobdella decora, Q27701) in complex with 2-deoxy-2, 3-didehydro-NeuAc was solved. The refined model comprising residues 81-769 has a catalytic beta-propeller domain, a N-terminal lectin-like domain and an irregular beta-stranded domain inserted into the catalytic domain [6].