Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Amino sugar
Introduction
In chemistry, an amino sugar contains an amine group in place of a hydroxyl group. Derivatives of amine containing sugars, such as N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid, while not formally containing an amine, are also considered amino sugars.
Aminoglycosides are a class of antimicrobial compounds that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. These compounds frequently contain amino sugars (but in some cases contain aminocyclitols).
Common examples of amino sugars include: