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Sialic Acid

 

• Description
• Functions
• Production and Metabolism
• Role in Disease
• Gene and Processing

Description

• Sialic acid is a generic term for the N- or O-substituted derivatives of neuraminic acid, a monosaccharide with a nine-carbon backbone. It is also the name for the most common member of this group, N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac or NANA). Sialic acids are found widely distributed in animal tissues and in bacteria, especially in glycoproteins and gangliosides.

Functions

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Production and Metabolism

 

 

Role in Disease

 

Sialic acid acts as the adhesion molecule for influenza virus protein hemagglutinin.