An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research
Humans frequently interact with pigs, whose meat is also one of the primary sources of animal protein. They are one of the main species at the center of sialic acid (Sia) research. Sias are sugars at terminals of glycoconjugates, are expressed at the cell surfaces of mammals, and are important in ce...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/6/903 |
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| author | Oluwamayowa Joshua Ogun Georg Thaller Doreen Becker |
| author_facet | Oluwamayowa Joshua Ogun Georg Thaller Doreen Becker |
| author_sort | Oluwamayowa Joshua Ogun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Humans frequently interact with pigs, whose meat is also one of the primary sources of animal protein. They are one of the main species at the center of sialic acid (Sia) research. Sias are sugars at terminals of glycoconjugates, are expressed at the cell surfaces of mammals, and are important in cellular interactions. N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) are notable Sias in mammals. Cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (<i>CMAH</i>) encodes the <i>CMAH</i> enzyme that biosynthesizes Neu5Gc. Although humans cannot endogenously synthesize Neu5Gc due to the inactivation of this gene by a mutation, Neu5Gc can be metabolically incorporated into human tissues from red meat consumption. Interactions between Neu5Gc and human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies have been associated with certain diseases and disorders. In this review, we summarized the sialic acid metabolic pathway, its regulation and link to viral infections, as well as the importance of the pig as a model organism in Sia research, making it a possible source of Neu5Gc antigens affecting human health. Future research in solving the structures of crucial enzymes involved in Sia metabolism, as well as their regulation and interactions with other enzymes, especially <i>CMAH</i>, could help to understand their function and reduce the amount of Neu5Gc. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:22:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19205d1db2a84d7b9703f8320eec555d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:22:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-19205d1db2a84d7b9703f8320eec555d2023-11-23T15:40:13ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-06-0111690310.3390/biology11060903An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid ResearchOluwamayowa Joshua Ogun0Georg Thaller1Doreen Becker2Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, GermanyInstitute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, GermanyInstitute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, GermanyHumans frequently interact with pigs, whose meat is also one of the primary sources of animal protein. They are one of the main species at the center of sialic acid (Sia) research. Sias are sugars at terminals of glycoconjugates, are expressed at the cell surfaces of mammals, and are important in cellular interactions. N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) are notable Sias in mammals. Cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (<i>CMAH</i>) encodes the <i>CMAH</i> enzyme that biosynthesizes Neu5Gc. Although humans cannot endogenously synthesize Neu5Gc due to the inactivation of this gene by a mutation, Neu5Gc can be metabolically incorporated into human tissues from red meat consumption. Interactions between Neu5Gc and human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies have been associated with certain diseases and disorders. In this review, we summarized the sialic acid metabolic pathway, its regulation and link to viral infections, as well as the importance of the pig as a model organism in Sia research, making it a possible source of Neu5Gc antigens affecting human health. Future research in solving the structures of crucial enzymes involved in Sia metabolism, as well as their regulation and interactions with other enzymes, especially <i>CMAH</i>, could help to understand their function and reduce the amount of Neu5Gc.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/6/903<i>CMAH</i>pigNeu5GcNeu5Acsialic acidred meat |
| spellingShingle | Oluwamayowa Joshua Ogun Georg Thaller Doreen Becker An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research Biology <i>CMAH</i> pig Neu5Gc Neu5Ac sialic acid red meat |
| title | An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research |
| title_full | An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research |
| title_fullStr | An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research |
| title_short | An Overview of the Importance and Value of Porcine Species in Sialic Acid Research |
| title_sort | overview of the importance and value of porcine species in sialic acid research |
| topic | <i>CMAH</i> pig Neu5Gc Neu5Ac sialic acid red meat |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/6/903 |
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