Low incidence of N-glycolylneuraminic acid in birds and reptiles and its absence in the platypus

Identification of O-glycan Structures from Chicken Intestinal Mucins Provides Insight into Campylobactor jejuni Pathogenicity*

“…In most cases, the sialic acid monosaccharide was N-acetylneuraminic acid, but interestingly, 2-). Chickens lack the enzyme to produce NGNA residues but trace amounts have previously been reported (27), and the presence of NGNA identified by MS in this study was further confirmed by sialic acid speciation HPLC (Fig. 4A).…”

“…One interesting result was the identification of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) residues in the large intestines despite the observation that chickens lack the gene required to synthesize Neu5Gc ((cytidine monophosphate (CMP)-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH)), although trace amounts have been previously reported (27). Interestingly, chickens are the only other animals aside from humans that generate antibodies against injected Neu5Gc monosaccharides (35).…”

Receptor-Binding Profiles of H7 Subtype Influenza Viruses in Different Host Species

“…The receptor-binding assay used in this study shows that H7 equine influenza viruses bind Neu5Gc significantly better than Neu5Ac, whereas H3 equine influenza viruses display the opposite binding preference. Because Neu5Gc is absent in birds and humans (54), one can assume that equine H7 influenza viruses were strongly adapted to their host and that their receptor specificity could have restricted their transmission to other species.…”

“…The Nglycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) does not seem to be present in birds, but it is found in all mammals except humans (54). To assess viral recognition of Neu5Gc, we used SGP with a Neu5Gc␣2-3Gal␤1-4GlcNAc moiety [3=SLN(Gc)].…”

Metabolism of Vertebrate Amino Sugars with N-Glycolyl Groups

“…This finding is important in light of classic claims for the presence of Neu5Gc in human carcinomas and fetal tissues (19) using anti-Neu5Gc antibodies generated in chickens (the avian lineage also appears deficient in Neu5Gc and thus can be immunized against the antigen) (20). More recently, histology of human tissues using an affinity-purified monospecific version of such an antibody (␣Neu5Gc IgY) has demonstrated several human tissues where Neu5Gc is characteristically present, such as endothelial cells lining the micro-and macro-vasculature (21), carcinomas (22), placental tissues (23), and epithelial cells lining hollow organs (24,25).…”