| The enzymes of sialic acid biosynthesis. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 15888312 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The sialic acids are a family of nine carbon alpha-keto acids that play a wide variety of biological roles in nature. In mammals, they are found at the distal ends of cell surface glycoconjugates, and thus are major determinants of cellular recognition and adhesion events. In certain strains of pathogenic bacteria, they are found in capsular polysaccharides that mask the organism from the immune system by mimicking the exterior of a mammalian cell. This review outlines recent developments in the understanding of the two main enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the sialic acid, N-acetylneuraminic acid. The first, a hydrolyzing UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase, generates N-acetylmannosamine and UDP from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. The second, sialic acid synthase, generates either N-acetylneuraminic acid (bacteria) or N-acetylneuraminic acid 9-phosphate (mammals) in a condensation reaction with phosphoenolpyruvate. An emphasis is placed on an understanding of the mechanistic and structural features of these enzymes. |
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Authors:
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Martin E Tanner |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Review Date: 2005-02-25 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Bioorganic chemistry Volume: 33 ISSN: 0045-2068 ISO Abbreviation: Bioorg. Chem. Publication Date: 2005 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2005-05-12 Completed Date: 2005-09-13 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 1303703 Medline TA: Bioorg Chem Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 216-28 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1. mtanner@chem.ubc.ca |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Carbohydrate Conformation Carbohydrate Epimerases / chemistry, metabolism Hydrolysis Oxo-Acid-Lyases / chemistry, metabolism* Sialic Acids / biosynthesis* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Sialic Acids; EC 2.5.1.56/N-acetylneuraminate synthase; EC 4.1.3.-/Oxo-Acid-Lyases; EC 5.1.3.-/Carbohydrate Epimerases; EC 5.1.3.14/UDP acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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