Date of Award:

5-1-1984

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Physiology

Committee Chair(s)

Raymond T. Sanders

Committee

Raymond T. Sanders

Committee

Thomas L. Bahler

Committee

Warren C. Foote

Committee

Datus M. Hammond

Committee

Harris O. Van Orden

Abstract

An intriguing and dynamic chapter in the history of biochemical research concerns the acylated derivatives of neuraminic acid, the so-called "sialic acids." These substances have been found to occur naturally as constituents of a wide variety of mucoproteins, mucolipids, and related compounds. Because of their vast distribution throughout the animal kingdom, considerable attention has been focused on the chemical, physical, and biological properties of these acids. Attendant studies have shown the functional integrity of certain of the protein and lipid conjugates to be dependent on the presence of sialic acid residues, thereby assigning physiological importance to the acylated derivatives of neuraminic acid.

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