ContaminantDB: N-Acetylneuraminic acid

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (4)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2014-08-29 06:51:25 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 18:07:13 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM003417

Identification

Common Name

N-Acetylneuraminic acid

Class

Small Molecule

Description

N-Acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) or sialic acid is an acetyl derivative of the amino sugar neuraminic acid. It occurs in many glycoproteins, glycolipids, and polysaccharides in both mammals and bacteria. The most abundant sialic acid, NeuAc, is synthesized in vivo from N-acetylated D-mannosamine (ManNAc) or D-glucosamine (GlcNAc). NeuAc and its activated form, CMP-NeuAc, are biosynthesized in five consecutive reactions: UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) ManNAc 6-phosphate NeuAc 9-phosphate NeuAc CMP-NeuAc. CMP-NeuAc is transported into the Golgi apparatus and, with the aid of specific sialyltransferases, added onto nonreducing positions on oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids. NeuAc is widely distributed throughout human tissues and found in several fluids, including serum, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. It is found in high levels in the brain, adrenal glands, and the heart. Serum and urine levels of the free acid are elevated in individuals suffering from renal failure. Serum and saliva Neu5Ac levels are also elevated in alcoholics. A disorder known as Salla disease or infantile NeuAc storage disease is also characterized by high serum and urine levels of this compound. The negative charge of is responsible for the slippery feel of saliva and mucins coating the body's organs. This particular sialic acid is known to act as a decoy for invading pathogens. Along with involvement in preventing infections (mucus associated with mucous membranes mouth, nose, GI, respiratory tract), Neu5Ac acts as a receptor for influenza viruses, allowing attachment to mucous cells via hemagglutinin (an early step in acquiring influenzavirus infection). NeuAc is also becoming known as an agent necessary for mediating ganglioside distribution and structures in the brain. Sialic acid (SA) is an N-acetylated derivative of neuraminic acid that is an abundant terminal monosaccharide of glycoconjugates. Normal human serum SA is largely bound to glycoproteins or glycolipids (Total sialic acid, TSA, 1.5-2.5 mmol/L), with small amounts of free SA (1-3 umol/L). Negatively charged SA units stabilize glycoprotein conformation in cell surface receptors to increase cell rigidity. This enables signal recognition and adhesion to ligands, antibodies, enzymes and microbes. SA residues are antigenic determinant residues in carbohydrate chains of glycolipids and glycoproteins, chemical messengers in tissue and body fluids, and may regulate glomeruli basement membrane permeability. Sialic acids are structurally unique nine-carbon keto sugars occupying the interface between the host and commensal or pathogenic microorganisms. An important function of host sialic acid is to regulate innate immunity. Sialic acid is the moiety most actively recycled for metabolic purposes in the salvage pathways in glycosphingolipid metabolism. Sialic acid is indispensable for the neuritogenic activities of gangliosides constituents which are unique in that a sialic acid directly binds to the glucose of the cerebroside, they are mutually connected in tandem, and some are located in the internal parts of the sugar chain. Sialylation (sialic acid linked to galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, or linked to another sialic acid) represents one of the most frequently occurring terminations of the oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids. The biosynthesis of the various linkages is mediated by the different members of the sialyltransferase family. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Contaminant Sources

FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Feces
HMDB Contaminants - Urine
T3DB toxins
ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals

Contaminant Type

Animal Toxin
Food Toxin
Mammal Toxin
Metabolite
Natural Compound
Organic Compound

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
5-N-ACETYL-BETA-D-neuraminIC ACID	ChEBI
beta-Neu5ac	ChEBI
5-N-ACETYL-b-D-neuraminate	Generator
5-N-ACETYL-b-D-neuraminic acid	Generator
5-N-ACETYL-beta-D-neuraminate	Generator
5-N-ACETYL-β-D-neuraminate	Generator
5-N-ACETYL-β-D-neuraminic acid	Generator
b-Neu5ac	Generator
Β-neu5ac	Generator
N-Acetylneuraminate	Generator
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-b-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosonate	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-b-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosonic acid	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulosonate	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-beta-delta-galacto-2-nonulopyranosonate	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-beta-delta-galacto-2-nonulopyranosonic acid	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-delta-galacto-2-nonulosonate	HMDB
5-(Acetylamino)-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-delta-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid	HMDB
5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonate	HMDB
5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid	HMDB
5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-delta-galacto-nonulosonate	HMDB
5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-delta-galacto-nonulosonic acid	HMDB
5-N-Acetyl-beta-delta-neuraminic acid	HMDB
5-N-Acetyl-D-neuraminate	HMDB
5-N-Acetyl-D-neuraminic acid	HMDB
5-N-Acetyl-delta-neuraminate	HMDB
5-N-Acetyl-delta-neuraminic acid	HMDB
5-N-Acetylneuraminate	HMDB
5-N-Acetylneuraminic acid	HMDB
Aceneuramate	HMDB
Aceneuramic acid	HMDB
Acetylneuraminate	HMDB
Acetylneuraminic acid	HMDB
b-5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulopyranosonate	HMDB
b-5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulopyranosonic acid	HMDB
b-Sialic acid	HMDB
beta-5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-delta-galacto-nonulopyranosonate	HMDB
beta-5-Acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-delta-glycero-delta-galacto-nonulopyranosonic acid	HMDB
beta-Sialic acid	HMDB
Lactaminate	HMDB
Lactaminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-b-D-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-b-D-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-b-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-beta-delta-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-beta-delta-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-beta-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-D-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-D-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-delta-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-delta-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-neuraminate	HMDB
N-Acetyl-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetylneuramate	HMDB
N-Acetylneuramic acid	HMDB
N-Acetylsialate	HMDB
N-Acetylsialic acid	HMDB
NAN	HMDB
NANA	HMDB
Neu5ac	HMDB
Sialic acid	HMDB
Acid, sialic	HMDB
Acid, N-acetylneuraminic	HMDB
N Acetylneuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-beta-D-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-beta-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-β-D-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetyl-β-neuraminic acid	HMDB
N-Acetylneuraminic acid	HMDB

Chemical Formula

C₁₁H₁₉NO₉

Average Molecular Mass

309.270 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

309.106 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

131-48-6

IUPAC Name

(2S,4S,5R,6R)-5-acetamido-2,4-dihydroxy-6-[(1R,2R)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl]oxane-2-carboxylic acid

Traditional Name

β-neu5ac

SMILES

CC(=O)N[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)C[C@](O)(O[C@H]1[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO)C(O)=O

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/C11H19NO9/c1-4(14)12-7-5(15)2-11(20,10(18)19)21-9(7)8(17)6(16)3-13/h5-9,13,15-17,20H,2-3H2,1H3,(H,12,14)(H,18,19)/t5-,6+,7+,8+,9+,11-/m0/s1

InChI Key

SQVRNKJHWKZAKO-PFQGKNLYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of organic compounds known as n-acylneuraminic acids. These are neuraminic acids carrying an N-acyl substituent.

Kingdom

Organic compounds

Super Class

Organic oxygen compounds

Class

Organooxygen compounds

Sub Class

Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates

Direct Parent

N-acylneuraminic acids

Alternative Parents

Substituents

N-acylneuraminic acid
Neuraminic acid
C-glucuronide
C-glycosyl compound
Glycosyl compound
Alpha-hydroxy acid
Pyran
Hydroxy acid
Oxane
Acetamide
Carboxamide group
Hemiacetal
Secondary carboxylic acid amide
Secondary alcohol
Carboxylic acid derivative
Carboxylic acid
Oxacycle
Organoheterocyclic compound
Monocarboxylic acid or derivatives
Polyol
Alcohol
Hydrocarbon derivative
Organic nitrogen compound
Organopnictogen compound
Primary alcohol
Organic oxide
Carbonyl group
Organonitrogen compound
Aliphatic heteromonocyclic compound

Molecular Framework

Aliphatic heteromonocyclic compounds

External Descriptors

N-acetylneuraminic acid (CHEBI:45744 )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Endogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Lysosome
Membrane
Nucleus

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Adrenal Gland
Brain
Myelin
Prostate
Testes

Pathways

Name	SMPDB Link	KEGG Link
Amino Sugar Metabolism	SMP00045	map00520
Salla Disease/Infantile Sialic Acid Storage Disease	SMP00240	Not Available
Sialuria or French Type Sialuria	SMP00216	Not Available
Sjogren Larsson Syndrome	SMP00217	Not Available

Applications

EC 3.2.1.18 (exo-alpha-sialidase) inhibitor

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

Physical Properties

State

Solid

Appearance

White powder.

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	186°C
Boiling Point	Not Available
Solubility	Not Available

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
Water Solubility	227 g/L	ALOGPS
logP	-2.8	ALOGPS
logP	-3.6	ChemAxon
logS	-0.13	ALOGPS
pKa (Strongest Acidic)	3	ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)	-1.3	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	-1	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	9	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	7	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	176.78 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	5	ChemAxon
Refractivity	63.78 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	27.82 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	1	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	No	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	No	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (7 TMS)	splash10-0fr2-1961000000-3acdbc4b39a5bf685996	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (6 TMS)	splash10-014j-0492000000-8e4279660c77b0c70a30	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (1 MEOX; 7 TMS)	splash10-00l6-1792200000-863a168c10243229e892	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized)	splash10-0fr2-1961000000-3acdbc4b39a5bf685996	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized)	splash10-014j-0492000000-8e4279660c77b0c70a30	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized)	splash10-00l6-1792200000-863a168c10243229e892	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-0h2f-9660000000-f7a1f63f319c23f8e72a	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (5 TMS) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-0zfr-4620249000-1d39f85a16504ef9ea46	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 10V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-00di-0190000000-a3a5aaa2e10a6cfed08a	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 25V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-0fk9-3900000000-7100e174e13e94736ae7	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - Quattro_QQQ 40V, Positive (Annotated)	splash10-00si-9300000000-1166885a787fd53086b0	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-000i-9100000000-260b6f27d6f3469ede2f	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-000i-9000000000-35b6da9206192d33828e	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-000i-9301000000-47798651a02647e16452	Spectrum
LC-MS/MS	LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 30V, Negative	splash10-000i-9000000000-1096dd07227387a97604	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-01ox-1091000000-11c42df33f8993522db0	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-03kc-5090000000-5d0c74aa0d8a2c8d321c	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-03di-9320000000-cfda0db8085e62f50516	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-0a4j-3391000000-68ee32ef5e2ba6223c42	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-000i-9110000000-9ae00577454ddf4db073	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0a4i-9300000000-798cb916675bb1245a78	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-03kc-0095000000-8f7746cc3f652b12033f	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-02tc-1392000000-3e251c9d2583e71f866a	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-03di-7910000000-ba41b78e53cb934a9b19	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-0a4i-3039000000-4348eff0515b0da3bc08	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-0a59-6290000000-5ac6f13cca0827ab0dd0	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-0a4u-9100000000-ac22477eeca403481eff	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	13C NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
2D NMR	[1H,1H] 2D NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
2D NMR	[1H,13C] 2D NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Not Available

Mechanism of Toxicity

Not Available

Metabolism

Not Available

Toxicity Values

Not Available

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

Uses/Sources

This is an endogenously produced metabolite found in the human body. It is used in metabolic reactions, catabolic reactions or waste generation.

Minimum Risk Level

Not Available

Health Effects

Not Available

Symptoms

Not Available

Treatment

Not Available

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

DB04265

HMDB ID

HMDB0000230

FooDB ID

Not Available

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID

Not Available

BiGG ID

Not Available

BioCyc ID

Not Available

METLIN ID

Not Available

PDB ID

Not Available

Wikipedia Link

N-Acetylneuraminic acid

Chemspider ID

ChEBI ID

PubChem Compound ID

Kegg Compound ID

YMDB ID

Not Available

ECMDB ID

ECMDB00830

References

Synthesis Reference

Yamamoto, Toshihiro; Teshima, Tadashi; Inami, Kaoru; Shiba, Tetsuo. Synthesis of sialic acid through aldol condensation of glucose with oxalacetic acid. Tetrahedron Letters (1992), 33(3), 325-8.

MSDS

Not Available

General References

1. Yamamoto, Toshihiro; Teshima, Tadashi; Inami, Kaoru; Shiba, Tetsuo. Synthesis of sialic acid through aldol condensation of glucose with oxalacetic acid. Tetrahedron Letters (1992), 33(3), 325-8.

2. Domschke W, Lux G, Domschke S: Furan H2-antagonist ranitidine inhibits pentagastrin-stimulated gastric secretion stronger than cimetidine. Gastroenterology. 1980 Dec;79(6):1267-71.

3. Bosmann HB: Platelet adhesiveness and aggregation. II. Surface sialic acid, glycoprotein: N-acetylneuraminic acid transferase, and neuraminidase of human blood platelets. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1972 Oct 25;279(3):456-74.

4. Rack J, Sonnenberg A: The influence of smoking and intravenous nicotine on gastric mucus. Hepatogastroenterology. 1983 Dec;30(6):258-60.

5. Bell JD, Brown JC, Nicholson JK, Sadler PJ: Assignment of resonances for 'acute-phase' glycoproteins in high resolution proton NMR spectra of human blood plasma. FEBS Lett. 1987 May 11;215(2):311-5.

6. Brusque A, Rotta L, Pettenuzzo LF, Junqueira D, Schwarzbold CV, Wyse AT, Wannmacher CM, Dutra-Filho CS, Wajner M: Chronic postnatal administration of methylmalonic acid provokes a decrease of myelin content and ganglioside N-acetylneuraminic acid concentration in cerebrum of young rats. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2001 Feb;34(2):227-31.

7. Seppala R, Renlund M, Bernardini I, Tietze F, Gahl WA: Renal handling of free sialic acid in normal humans and patients with Salla disease or renal disease. Lab Invest. 1990 Aug;63(2):197-203.

8. Loomis RE, Prakobphol A, Levine MJ, Reddy MS, Jones PC: Biochemical and biophysical comparison of two mucins from human submandibular-sublingual saliva. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1987 Nov 1;258(2):452-64.

9. Nakata D, Munster AK, Gerardy-Schahn R, Aoki N, Matsuda T, Kitajima K: Molecular cloning of a unique CMP-sialic acid synthetase that effectively utilizes both deaminoneuraminic acid (KDN) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) as substrates. Glycobiology. 2001 Aug;11(8):685-92.