Amino sugars are simple sugars (monosaccharides), in the molecules of which one hydroxyl (OH) group is replaced by an amino group (-NH2). These compounds are widely distributed in nature and are important components of various biological systems.
Amino sugars play an important role in maintaining the structure and function of many biological molecules, including glycoproteins, mucopolysaccharides and other biological compounds. For example, amino sugars are key components of heparin and some hormones that regulate various physiological processes in the body.
In the composition of glycoproteins, amino sugar residues are usually associated with carbohydrate residues, forming specific structures that ensure interaction with other molecules. Mucopolysaccharides, on the other hand, contain aminosaccharide units linked to long chains of monosaccharide units such as glucose or galactose. These chains form a three-dimensional structure that plays an important role in protecting tissues and organs from damage.
In addition, amino sugars can be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases associated with disruption of the structure and function of biological molecules. For example, some aminosaccharide drugs are used to treat cystic fibrosis, which is associated with impaired mucopolysaccharidase function.
Thus, amino sugars are an important class of simple sugars that play key roles in the structure and function of biological molecules and can be used as therapeutics to treat various diseases.
Amino sugars are simple sugars that contain in their structure a hydroxyl group replaced by an amino group. They are important components of many biological compounds, such as mucopolysaccharides, glycoproteins and some hormones.
Amino sugars are carbohydrates whose molecules contain an amine (amino) group bonded to one of the water carbon molecules. This radical difference from sugars is no coincidence. Amino acids and proteins, with the help of their active center, using the free amino group of carbohydrates, catalyze the most important reactions of the body - they participate in the synthesis of proteins, lipids, can be activated by the immune system and enhance the functioning of the immune system and other cell functions.
The most important importance of amino sugars is that more than a thousand genes responsible for the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglyconamines are already encoded in the human genome. Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) is a heteropolymeric carbohydrate of animal cells. Most of the eiders are associated with proteins. Present in animal tissues. Functions