neuraminic acid
neuraminic acid
A 9-carbon sugar that is 5-amino-3,5-dideoxy-<small>D</small>-<i>glycero</i>-<small>D</small>-<i>galacto</i>-non-2-ulosonic acid in either its open-chain or cyclic hemiketal forms. Although it does not occur naturally, many of its derivatives are found widely distributed in animal tissues and in bacteria, particularly in glycoproteins and gangliosides. <em>N</em>- or <em>O</em>-substituted derivatives of neuraminic acid are known as sialic acids.