#$%^&*AU2012261528A120130110.pdf#####ABSTRACT A method of synthesizing sialic acid in plants and plants capable of synthesizing sialic acid are provided. Furthermore, a method for producing sialyated protein in a plant is also provided. The method to synthesize sialic acid comprises providing a plant comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) synthase or Neu5Ac lyase, and growing the plant and expressing the nucleotide sequence thereby synthesizing the sialic acid.