N-Acetylglucosamine (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, or GlcNAc, or NAG) is a monosaccharide derivative of glucose. It is an amide between glucosamine and acetic acid. It has a molecular formula of C8H15NO6, a molar mass of 221.21 g/mol, and it is significant in several biological systems.
It is part of a biopolymer in the bacterial cell wall, built from alternating units of GlcNAc and N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc), cross-linked with oligopeptides at the lactic acid residue of MurNAc. This layered structure is called peptidoglycan (formerly called murein).
GlcNAc is the monomeric unit of the polymer chitin, which forms the outer coverings of insects and crustaceans. It is the main component of the radulas of mollusks, the beaks of cephalopods, and a major component of the cell walls of most Fungi.
Polymerized with glucuronic acid, it forms hyaluronan.
GlcNAc has been reported to be an inhibitor of elastase release from human polymorphonulear leukocytes (range 8 - 17% inhibition), however this is much weaker than the inhibition seen with N-acetyl-galactosamine (range 92 - 100%).
Medical uses
It has been proposed as a treatment for autoimmune diseases, and recent tests have claimed some success.
See also
- Keratan sulfate
- Chitin
- N-acetyllactosamine synthase
- Wheat germ agglutinin, a plant lectin that binds to this substrate
References
- ^ Kamel, M; Hanafi, M; Bassiouni, M (1991). "Inhibition of elastase enzyme release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by N-acetyl-galactosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine". Clinical and experimental rheumatology 9 (1): 17â€"21. PMID 2054963.Â
- ^ "Sugar supplement may treat immune disease - health - 07 June 2007 - New Scientist". Retrieved 2007-06-08.Â
- ^ "Glucosamine-Like Supplement Suppresses Multiple Sclerosis Attacks, Study Suggests". Science Daily.Â
External links
- Re Multiple Sclerosis
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