If terminal sialic acid residues are removed from glycoproteins, the resulting proteins are known as asialoglycoproteins. [1] [2]
In rats, the exposure of subterminal galactose or GalNAc residues may assist in receptor-mediated endocytosis of asialoglycoproteins by asialoglycoprotein receptors on Kuppfer cells. The human ortholog of this gene is non-functional, but hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptors are functional in both humans and rats. [3]