Nomenclature of Carbohydrates (Recommendations 1996)

Glossary of Glycose-based Terms

Standard forms

[Common biochemical usage]

ClassAmino sugaraUronic acidbUlosonic acidThe sialic acid familyb
{usually as acetamido
(N-acetyl) derivative}
UronateUlosonate
GlycoseAminodeoxyglycoseGlycuronic acidGlyculosonic acidNeuraminic acid
GlycuronateGlyculosonateSialic acid
[Glycosamine] [Ketoglyconic acid]
GlycosylAminodeoxyglycosylGlycosyluronic acidGlyculosylonic acid[Neuraminosyl]c
GlycosyluronateGlyculosylonate[Sialosyl]c
[Glycosaminyl][Glycuronosyl]
GlycosideAminodeoxyglycosideGlycosiduronic acidGlyculosidonic acid[Neuraminoside]
GlycosiduronateGlyculosidonate[Sialoside]
[Glycosaminide][Glycuronide]
GlycosidaseAminodeoxyglycosidaseGlycosiduronaseGlyculosidonase[Neuraminidase]
(Glycoside hydrolase)
[Glycosaminidase][Glycuronidase] [Sialidase]
GlycosyltransferaseAminodeoxyglycosyltransferaseGlycosyluronatetransferaseGlyculosylonatetransferase[Neuraminosyltransferase]
[Glycosaminyltransferase][Glycuronosyltransferase] [Sialosyltransferase]

aThe biochemical usage is widely established in the literature.

bThe biochemical usage implies the parents 'glycuronose', 'sialose', and 'neuraminose'.

c'Neuraminyl' and 'sialyl' have been used, but are likely to be interpreted as referring to acyl groups; the terms given are more consistent with the terms used for glycosides.


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