What is N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc)?
N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc) is an orally active sialic acid precursor that prevents hypertension by increasing the sialylation of IgG, which is promising for cardiovascular disease research.N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine activates hypocretin (HCRT) gene expression in orexigenic neurons and ameliorates aging-induced nerve damage, offering potential for neurological disease research. N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine can activate hypocretin (HCRT) gene expression in orexigenic neurons and ameliorate aging-induced neurological damage, which offers potential for research on neurological diseases.
Why do those with obesity so often develop high blood pressure?
The answer could be as simple as loss of a sugar molecule, based on a recent UT Southwestern study.
"Based on our results, it might be possible to take a supplement to prevent obesity from causing high blood pressure," said Dr. Philip Shaul, Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern and co-senior author of a new Circulation study. "When we gave a compound used to make this sugar to mice, the mice were protected from developing hypertension – even though they were obese."
Relationship between N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine and obesity：
Called ManNac, short for N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, this naturally occurring compound is made in the body during the production of a sugar called sialic acid. Sialic acid is an important component of a chain of sugars found on immunoglobulin (IgG), the structures from which antibodies are formed. The study showed that levels of sialic acid on the IgG sugar chain drop in both humans and mice as obesity increases.
In humans, as levels of IgG-linked sialic acid decline, blood pressure goes up in a teeter-totter fashion, according to findings in more than 3,400 trial participants, Dr. Shaul said.
In mice, adding ManNac to their drinking water replaced the sialic acid on the IgG sugar chain and prevented high blood pressure, the study reported.
Application of N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine：
1. Biological research: N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine is commonly used in the research of glycobiology and biochemistry. It can be used as a substrate for enzyme-catalyzed reactions, as a biologically active molecule for the study of cell surface molecules, and as a functional compound for the synthesis and modification of glycoproteins.
2. Preparation of drugs and biological products: N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine is an important intermediate for drug synthesis, which can be used to synthesize antiviral drugs, immunomodulators, biological products and vaccines. For example, N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine can be used to prepare glycogen for influenza A vaccine.
3. Food industry: N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine can also be used in the food industry. It can be used to improve the taste and texture of food, such as increasing the viscosity of dairy and meat products, increasing dietary fiber and so on.
4. Cosmetics: N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine is also used in cosmetics. It can be used as a moisturizer and anti-aging agent, which helps to moisturize and improve the texture and elasticity of the skin.
5. Other applications: N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine can also be used in the preparation of materials, chemicals and biofuels.
Overall, N-Acetyl-D-mannosamine has a wide range of application prospects and market potential, and is of great significance to the fields of glycochemistry, biologics and life sciences.