Definition of sialic acid in English:
sialic acid
nounsʌɪˈalɪksīˌalik ˈasid
mass nounBiochemistry A substance present in saliva which consists of acyl derivatives of neuraminic acid.
Example sentencesExamples
- Many pathogens use sugar groups of surface glycoproteins, in particular sialic acid residues, as receptors for invasion.
- Biochemical markers of metastasis such as lung hydroxyproline, uronic acid, serum sialic acid and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase were estimated.
- It represents transferrin without the sialic acid residues.
- In an antennary structure, some antennae may be capped by sialic acid whereas others may be uncapped.
- If scientists treat blood cells with an enzyme to remove sialic acid, the parasite can no longer invade.
Origin
1950s: sialic from Greek sialon 'saliva' + -ic.