The function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000135838 (NPL, N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase) is as follows. Catalyzes the cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid) to form pyruvate and N-acetylmannosamine via a Schiff base intermediate (PubMed:33895133). It prevents sialic acids from being recycled and returning to the cell surface (PubMed:33895133). Involved in the N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) degradation pathway (PubMed:22692205, PubMed:33895133). Although human is not able to catalyze formation of Neu5Gc due to the inactive CMAHP enzyme, Neu5Gc is present in food and must be degraded (Probable). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:22692205, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33895133, ECO:0000305|PubMed:22692205}.