Abstract
IN recent years neuraminic acid1 and several of its derivatives, such as sialic acid and lactaminic acid, have been shown to be constituents of mucoproteins, gangliosides and related naturally occurring substances. Although the chemical structure of neuraminic acid has not been established as yet, its elementary composition and some of its chemical properties are known. The existence of this substance as either the free carboxylic acid or its corresponding lactone form has been demonstrated2, and it has been postulated that a hexosamine residue is present3. The biological function of neuraminic acid remains obscure, although recent evidence indicates that this compound is liberated from its parent polysaccharide by the action of influenza virus or virus-receptor-destroying enzymes3,4.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Klenk, E., and Lauenstein, K., Z. physiol. Chem., 291, 147 (1952).
Heimer, R., and Meyer, K., Fed. Proc., 15, 272 (1956).
Gottschalk, A., Yale J. Biol. Med., 28, 525 (1956).
Klenk, E., Faillard, H., and Lempfrid, H., Z. physiol. Chem., 301, 235 (1955).
Gardell, S., Acta Chem. Scand., 7, 207 (1953).
Feller, D. D., Strisower, E. H., and Chaikoff, I. L., J. Biol. Chem., 187, 571 (1950).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LAUENSTEIN, K., ALTMAN, K. Studies on the Biosynthesis of Neuraminic Acid. Nature 178, 917–918 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/178917a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/178917a0
This article is cited by
-
Mucosaccharides and glycoproteins
Ergebnisse der Physiologie Biologischen Chemie und Experimentellen Pharmakologie (1959)
