What is the role of sialic acid in molecular targeting?
Sialic acids are critical components of most ligands for the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules, which mediate leukocyte rolling along endothelium, as well as other interactions between immune cells and/or involving platelets [8,10].
Where is sialic acid found in the human body?
Sialic acids also exist in many human body fluids including saliva, gastric juice, serum, urine, tears, and human milk (Table 2). Free sialic acid is found in urine, particularly in patients with the disease sialuria, where up to 7 g of sialic acid can be eliminated in 1 day (Montreuil et al, 1968).
What do Siglecs do?
The primary function of Siglecs is to bind glycans containing sialic acids. These receptor-glycan interactions can be used in cell adhesion, cell signalling and others. The function of Siglecs is limited to their cellular distribution.
Why is Sialylation important?
Sialylation regulates neurodevelopment Polysialylation is associated with the plasticity of the nervous system, and sialic acids are more abundant in the neuronal cell membranes compared to other tissues (Svennerholm, et al., 1989). The major membrane protein polysialylated in mammalian cells is NCAM (Wang, 2012).
Where does Sialylation occur?
Sialic acids are found at all cell surfaces of vertebrates and some invertebrates, and also at certain bacteria that interact with vertebrates.
What do galectins do?
Galectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are involved in many physiological functions, such as inflammation, immune responses, cell migration, autophagy and signalling. They are also linked to diseases such as fibrosis, cancer and heart disease.
What does Sialylated mean?
Sialylation, or the covalent addition of sialic acid to the terminal end of glycoproteins, is a biologically important modification that is involved in embryonic development, neurodevelopment, reprogramming, oncogenesis and immune responses.