Abstract
IT would appear that the chemical relationship of the substances designated by various names such as neuraminic, sialic, lactiminic and gynaminic acid has been established. In order to avoid further confusion we propose to call the basic, unsubstituted compound neuraminic acid. Sialic acid is suggested as group name for the acylated neuraminic acids (for example, N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-glycolylneuraminic acid, diacetylneuraminic acids). For the enzyme which splits the glycosidic linkage joining the terminal sialic acid to the residual oligo- or polysaccharide the names neuraminidase and sialidase may be used synonymously. We have agreed to use this nomenclature in future.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BLIX, F., GOTTSCHALK, A. & KLENK, E. Proposed Nomenclature in the Field of Neuraminic and Sialic Acids. Nature 179, 1088 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/1791088b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1791088b0
This article is cited by
-
Application of chitosan-ZnO nanoparticle edible coating to wild-simulated Korean ginseng root
Food Science and Biotechnology (2022)
-
Sialylation is involved in cell fate decision during development, reprogramming and cancer progression
Protein & Cell (2019)
-
Multiple changes in sialic acid biology during human evolution
Glycoconjugate Journal (2009)
-
A reflection on the early history of glycosphingolipids
Glycoconjugate Journal (1996)
-
Herpetomonas megaseliae: Effect of lipopolysaccharide on cell-surface anionogenic groups
Parasitology Research (1991)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.