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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Metabolic Glycoengineering of Sialic Acid Using N-acyl-modified Mannosamines
Published on: November 25, 2017
A simple precipitation method for measuring sialic acid in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in plasma
Koji Shishino1, Yuki Yoshioka, Kaori Hashimoto
1Central Laboratory Department, Ehime University School of Medicine, Toon City, 791-0295, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. kshishi@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
Background:
A convenient method for the measurement of sialic acid in plasma apoB-containing lipoproteins is described.
Methods:
Dextran sulphate-Mg(2+) precipitation and enzymatic sialic acid assay were combined and applied to analysis of plasma from 96 healthy controls and 136 hyperlipidaemic subjects of types IIa (n=46), IIb (n=43), and IV (n=47).
Results:
The sialic acid concentrations (mean+/-SD) in plasma apoB-containing lipoproteins were 19.4+/-5.9, 24.3+/-4.7 (P<0.0001 versus normal), 23.0+/-4.7 (P<0.0001), 27.9+/-5.2 (P<0.0001), and 22.3+/-3.4 mg/L (P<0.002), for normal, all types of hyperlipidaemia, types IIa, IIb, and IV, respectively. The contents of sialic acid in apoB were 2.03+/-0.41%, 2.09+/-0.35% (no significance versus normal), 1.86+/-0.27% (P<0.0001), 1.97+/-0.26% (P<0.02), and 2.28+/-0.41% (P<0.002), for normal, all types of hyperlipidaemia, types IIa, IIb, and IV, respectively.
Conclusion:
The content of sialic acid in apoB decreased significantly in type IIa but increased in type IV hyperlipidaemia, which may reflect the presence of sialic acid in very low-density lipoprotein apolipoproteins other than apoB. This simple precipitation method will be useful to evaluate the sialic acid content in low-density lipoprotein in hyperlipidaemic subjects, especially of type IIa.
