N
-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), is an amino sugarIn chemistry, an amino sugar contains an amine group in place of a hydroxyl group. Derivatives of amine containing sugars, such as N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid, while not formally containing an amine, are also considered amino sugars....
derivative of galactoseGalactose is a type of sugar which is less sweet than glucose. It is considered a nutritive sweetener because it has food energy. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek word for milk, γάλακτος ....
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Discussion
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N
-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), is an amino sugarIn chemistry, an amino sugar contains an amine group in place of a hydroxyl group. Derivatives of amine containing sugars, such as N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid, while not formally containing an amine, are also considered amino sugars....
derivative of galactoseGalactose is a type of sugar which is less sweet than glucose. It is considered a nutritive sweetener because it has food energy. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek word for milk, γάλακτος ....
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Function
In humans it is the terminal carbohydrate forming the antigen of blood groupThe ABO blood group system is the most important blood type system in human blood transfusion. The associated anti-A antibodies and anti-B antibodies are usually IgM antibodies, which are usually produced in the first years of life by sensitization to environmental substances such as food,...
A.
It is typically the first monosaccharide that connects serineSerine is an organic compound with the formula HO
2CCHCH
2OH.-Occurrence:...
or threonineThreonine is an α-amino acid with the chemical formula HO
2CCHCHCH
3. Its codons are ACU, ACA, ACC, and ACG. This essential amino acid is classified as polar...
in particular forms of protein O
-glycosylationGlycosylation is the enzymatic process that links saccharides to produce glycans, attached to proteins, lipids, or other organic molecules. This enzymatic process produces one of the fundamental biopolymers found in cells . Glycosylation is a form of co-translational and post-translational...
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N-Acetylgalactosamine is necessary for
intercellular communicationCell signaling is part of a complex system of communication that governs basic cellular activities and coordinates cell actions. The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their microenvironment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and immunity as well as normal tissue...
, and is concentrated in sensory nerve structures of both humans and animals.