The role of sialic acid in determining the life-span of circulating cells and glycoproteins

Summary The role of sialic acid in determining the life of circulating cells and glycoproteins is reviewed and an attempt is made to assess its real importance and to interpret the desialylation pathway. An overall view of factors, including desialylated glycoprotein fragments, that may regulate hepatic synthesis of glycoproteins is presented.Acknowledgments. The author wishes to thank Drs.A. Viti andG. P. Pessina for helpful discussion and comments.