Biology Of The Sialic Acids

Sialic Acids and Sialoglycoconjugates in the Biology of Life, Health and Disease enables the reader to understand the role of sialylation as a post translational modification. The book provides insights on the latest knowledge in the field of sialoglycobiology. Sialic acids as terminal residues of oligosaccharide chains play crucial roles in several cellular recognition events. Synthesized post translationally, they play an important role in recognition, signaling, immunological response and cell-cell interaction. Improper sialylations have been associated with several diseases including cancer. In the post genomics and proteomics era, sialoglybiology has become more and more important in deciphering health and disease conditions. Discusses the sialic acids and their role in different diseases (other than cancer) Provides an understanding of sialylations as post translational modifications (PTM) Demonstrates the impact sialylation has on infectious diseases, the autoimmune system and health Gives insights on the importance of sialic acid biology through animal models

Sugar chains (glycans) are often attached to proteins and lipids and have multiple roles in the organization and function of all organisms. "Essentials of Glycobiology" describes their biogenesis and function and offers a useful gateway to the understanding of glycans.

Abraham Rosenberg assembles the groundbreaking work of preeminent international scientists to provide the most current, state-of-the-art presentation of research in siabiology. This concise volume examines the historical development of the field and reviews current knowledge on the genetic, immunologic, oncologic, neurodevelopmental, pathogenic, and cell regulatory properties of sialic acid. Outstanding features of this work include exhaustive reference material and detailed information tables.

Rapid progress in the field of sialic acids has made it desirable to collect the new data about these unique sugars and to continue the series of books on this topic. In 1960, A. GOTTSCHALK wrote "The Chemistry and Biology of Sialic Acids and Related Substances" (Cambridge University Press) and in 1976, A. ROSENBERG and C. -L. SCHENGRUND published "Biological Roles of Sialic Acids" (Plenum Press). In this book emphasis is given to various modern methods used in the isolation and analysis of sialic acids. New approaches to the synthesis of free and bound sialic acids are described and the vast field of occurrence and metabolism of these substances is reviewed. Sialidoses are dealt with in one of the chapters, because sialidases have been recognized as factors of pathophysiological im portance. As knowledge is increasing about the involvement of sialic acids in many aspects of cell biology, another chapter is devoted to these phenomena. With this book I intend to demonstrate modern trends in sialic acid chemistry and biochemistry, and I hope that it will be of practical use and find its place in laboratories rather than in libraries. This publication offers an opportunity to thank all colleagues in many countries, including my coworkers at the universities of Bochum and Kiel, for their cooperation, stimulating discussions and, very important, useful criticism. The continuous cooperation with J. F. G. VLIEGENTHART and his coworkers, Utrecht, has been rewarding in many respects.

Sialic Acids, Volume 76, the most recent release in the Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry series, is the second volume of a two-volume set devoted to the sialic acids. Vol. 76, devoted to the biological and biomedical aspects of sialic acids, includes chapters on "Sialic Acids in Neurology," "Sialic Acids in Nonenveloped Virus Infections," and "The Biology of Gangliosides," all written by leading experts in their fields. Features contributions from leading authorities and industry experts who specialize in carbohydrate chemistry, biochemistry and research Integrates the industrial, analytical and technological aspects of biochemistry, organic chemistry and instrumentation methodology in the study of carbohydrates Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

There is a startling amount of research activity concerning the role of sialic acid in mammalian cells and in the mammalian organism. One may discern in the early literature premonitions of compounds containing sialic acid, traceable by descriptions of color reactions, as far back as the turn of the century. Work spanning the 1930s to the 1950s culmi nated in the crystallization of sialic acid from a wide variety of biological materials. The ubiquitous nature of the sialic acids, and the biological importance of the substances in which they occur, then became generally manifest. Since then, the chemistry and metabolism of sialic acid and its occurrence, notably, but not exclusively, in the outer cell surfaces of mammalian cells and in key extracellular glycoproteins, have received great attention. The involvement of sialic acid-containing substances in tumorigenicity and in numerous metabolic and infectious pathological conditions, and in the growth, development, and integrity of mammalian cells has achieved widespread recognition. Intensive inquiry into the biological roles of sialic acid continues in a large number of research laboratories throughout the world. This book is intended to represent for the uninitiated as well as for the expert a wide and detailed overview of the current state of knowledge. Major efforts and pioneering break throughs have emerged from several laboratories, located on both sides of the Atlantic, of which we make no special individual mention here since they will to some extent appear in the pages that follow.

Part II of this excellent work covers proteoglycans and mucins and deals with many more examples of glycoprotein function. It also covers glycoproteins from four more species (slime mold, snails, fish, batracians). The content of the volume is very comprehensive in that most contributors are focussed on discussing, in depth, the wealth of most recent advances in their field, referring to previous reviews of older work for background information. This method effectively produces a very wide subject coverage in a smaller number of chapters/volumes. The volume is an important information source for all glycobiologist researchers (senior investigators, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students), and as a good, comprehensive, reference text for scientists working in the life sciences.

During the past three decades, the sugar moiety of complex carbohydrates has been found to be involved in important interactions of immunological specificity of antigens and to participate in a variety of cellular functions. The long polysaccharide side chains of the lipopolysaccharides on the outer membrane of Gram negative organisms provide surface antigens for differential serodiagnosis. Bacterial surface lectins are important in mediating the attachment of bacteria to host cells in the of infectious diseases. The carbohydrate pathogenesis moieties of cell surface glycoconjugates (glycoproteins and glycolipids) of mammals are the sites for intercellular recognition and for the regulatory molecular interactions such as interaction of complex carbohydrate with hormones or hepatic lectins. The carbohydrate side chains of many complex carbohydrates play essential roles as antigenic determinants b of human blood group ABH, Lea, Le , I, and i activities, as the Forssman specific determinant, and as tumor associated antigenic determinants. Prompted by these and other advances in the field, a Symposium on Molecular Immunology of Complex Carbohydrates was organized as a satellite meeting of the 8th International Glycoconjugate Conference held on September 8- 13, 1985, in Houston, Texas, U. S . A. Many eminent scientists contributed their knowledge at this meeting. The lecture and poster materials of the symposium are contained in this proceeding book, which is divided into four Sections and one Appendix. Section I is entitled Antibody Specificity, Epitope, and Lectinology. Dr. Elvin A.