Sialidase activity in nuclear membranes of rat brain

A highly purified nuclear membrane preparation was obtained from adult rat brain and examined for sialidase activity using GM3, GD1a, GD1b, or N-acetylneuramin lactitol as the substrate. The nuclear membranes contained an appreciable level of sialidase activity; the specific activities toward GM3 and N-acetylneuramin lactitol were 20.5 and 23.8% of the activities in the total brain homogenate, respectively. The sialidase activity in nuclear membranes showed substrate specificity distinct from other membrane-bound sialidases localized in lysosomal membranes, synaptosomal plasma membranes, or myelin membranes. These results strongly suggest the existence of a sialidase activity associated with the nuclear membranes from rat brain.