title: Sialic acid activation.
abstract: Cytidine 5'-monophosphosialic acid (CMP-sialic acid) is the activated form of sialic acid which is required for the biosynthesis of sialic acid-containing complex carbohydrates. Its discovery over 30 years ago by the laboratory of Dr Saul Roseman was a landmark in research dealing with the biosynthesis of these compounds. A review is presented of the salient features concerning this molecule: its discovery, chemistry, biosynthesis, subcellular location, enzymatic cleavage, transport and molecular biology. This report does not deal with its utilization by the sialyltransferases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003569:Cytidine Monophosphate N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D000216:N-Acylneuraminate Cytidylyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000378:metabolism; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012794:Sialic Acids; D003569:Cytidine Monophosphate N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D000216:N-Acylneuraminate Cytidylyltransferase; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; C010265:CMP-N-acylneuraminate phosphodiesterase