Published : 2024-10-21

Sialic acids – structure and properties

Jakub Iwaszczuk

Aneta Baj

Piotr Wałejko

Abstract

Sialic acids (SA), derivatives of neuraminic acid (Neu), are 9-carbon monosaccharides featuring a carboxyl group at the anomeric carbon atom C-2. The term "sialic acid", derived from the Greek word "σάλιο" (saliva), was proposed by Gunnar Blix in 1952 to describe the product of acid hydrolysis of salivary mucins. SA are crucial components of many glycoproteins, glycolipids, and glycopeptides. Key properties of SA include imparting a negative charge to glycoconjugates, polarizing cell membranes, modifying the macromolecular structure of certain glycoproteins, and influencing cellular recognition of low- and high-molecular-weight chemical compounds. The most prevalent SA are N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). Neu5Ac is widely present, whereas Neu5Gc is absent in physiological human tissues due to a mutation in the gene encoding CMAH (cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase), which is responsible for converting Neu5Ac to Neu5Gc. The absence of Neu5Gc in humans, resulting from the inactive form of CMAH, may have significant implications for the biological roles of SA in the human body. This review aims to explore the current literature on the multifaceted roles of sialic acids, particularly in the context of their impact on human health and disease. Special attention is given to the influence of dietary sialic acids on the correlation between their intake and cancer development. By summarizing recent findings, this review highlights potential carcinogenic effects of dietary sialic acids, based on the latest research data.

Keywords:

sialic acids, Neu5Ac, Neu5Gc, cancer biomarkers


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Iwaszczuk, J., Baj, A., & Wałejko, P. (2024). Sialic acids – structure and properties. Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 22(4), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.244

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Editorial Team
Stefana Banacha 1
02-097 Warsaw, Poland
biuletynfarmacji@wum.edu.pl
Publisher:
Medical University of Warsaw
ul. Żwirki i Wigury 61
02-091 Warszawa

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