An aldol product of d-mannosamine and pyruvic acid, linking the C-1 of the former to the C-3 of the latter. The N- and O-acyl derivatives of neuraminic acid are known as sialic acids and are constituents of gangliosides and of the polysaccharide components of mucoproteins and glycoproteins from many tissues, secretions, and species. SYN: prehemataminic acid.
