6'-sialyllactose sodium salt—a star oligosaccharide empowering the next generation CAS: 157574-76-0

6'-sialyllactose sodium salt is one of the most abundant sialylated oligosaccharides in human breast milk and is known as the "golden ingredient of breast milk". It is not only a key nutrient for the development of infants and young children, but also a core raw material that has attracted much attention in the fields of modern functional foods, prebiotics and high-end biomedicine.

Chemical Information

· Chemical name: 6'-sialyllactose sodium salt

· Common name: 6'-SL; 6'-N-acetylneuramidyl lactose sodium salt

· English name: 6'-N-Acetylneuramin-lactose Sodium Salt

· Chemical formula: C23H40NNaO19

· Molecular weight: 657.55 g/mol

· CAS number: 157574-76-0

Structural features

6'-sialyllactose sodium salt is a complex carbohydrate with an exquisite structure. Its unique features are:

· Precise structural connection: This molecule is composed of a molecule of sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) connected through an α-2,6 glycosidic bond to a molecule of lactose (galactose-β-1,4-glucose) with a galactose unit at the end. This specific connection is critical to its biological function.

· Key charged groups: The carboxyl group carried by the sialic acid moiety exists in the form of sodium salt, making it negatively charged under physiological conditions. This is the structural basis for its specific interaction with a variety of biological receptors (such as viruses, bacterial toxins, and cell surface proteins).

Main applications and advantages

1. Core functional ingredients of high-end infant formula milk powder

· Simulates breast milk to support brain and cognitive development: Sialic acid is an important component of gangliosides and glycoproteins in the brain and is essential for synapse formation and nerve conduction. Adding 6'-SL can make up for the deficiencies of cow's milk-based formula, making it closer to breast milk and providing key nutritional support for infants' early brain development.

· Regulate intestinal health and build immune defense: As a prebiotic, 6'-SL can selectively promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria (such as bifidobacteria) in the intestine and inhibit pathogen colonization. At the same time, it can directly bind to pathogenic bacteria (such as Campylobacter jejuni) and viruses, preventing them from attaching to intestinal cells, thereby effectively reducing the risk of infection and enhancing the immunity of infants and young children.

2. Potential tools for innovative drugs and therapies

· Anti-infectious drug development: Many pathogenic microorganisms initiate infection by recognizing sialic acid on the cell surface. 6'-SL can serve as a "bait" receptor that competitively binds to pathogens and prevents them from invading host cells, providing a molecular basis for the development of new anti-adhesion therapies.

· Drug delivery and targeting system: Utilizing the interaction between sialic acid and specific cell surface receptors, 6'-SL or its derivatives can be used to modify drug carriers (such as liposomes, nanoparticles) to achieve precise targeted delivery of drugs, improve efficacy and reduce side effects.

3. Frontier research and biological tool development

· Glycobiology and immunology research: 6'-SL is an ideal standard and tool molecule for studying biological processes such as sialic acid-mediated cell recognition, signal transduction and immune regulation.

· Development of diagnostic reagents: Based on the specific binding ability of 6'-SL to specific pathogens or proteins, it can be used to develop highly sensitive disease diagnostic detection reagents.

Conclusion

6'-sialyllactose sodium salt is not just a nutritional supplement, it is a bridge connecting early life nutrition and long-term health, and is the key to opening a new direction in precision nutrition and targeted therapy. From the "gold standard" of simulating breast milk, to the "molecular shield" to fight infection, to the "precision navigation" of drug delivery, its application prospects are extremely broad.

The above information is provided by the editor of KASONS and is for scientific research only.