Traving C, Schauer R
Biochemisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 1998 Dec;54(12):1330-49. doi: 10.1007/s000180050258.
Sialic acids represent a family of sugar molecules with an unusual and highly variable chemical structure that are found mostly in the terminal position of oligosaccharide chains on the surface of cells and molecules. These special features enable them to fulfil several important and even diametrical biological functions. Because of the great importance of sialic acids, it is also worth having a look at their metabolism in order to get an idea of the intimate connection between structure and function of these fascinating molecules and the often serious consequences that results from disturbances in the balance of metabolic reactions. The latter can be due to genetic disorders that result in the absence of certain enzyme activity, leading to severe illness or even to death.
唾液酸是一类具有独特且高度可变化学结构的糖分子，主要存在于细胞和分子表面寡糖链的末端位置。这些特殊特性使它们能够发挥多种重要甚至截然相反的生物学功能。由于唾液酸非常重要，因此了解它们的代谢过程也很有必要，以便了解这些迷人分子的结构与功能之间的密切联系，以及代谢反应平衡紊乱所导致的往往严重的后果。后者可能是由于遗传疾病导致某些酶活性缺失，从而引发严重疾病甚至死亡。
