Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans

The precipitation of glycosaminoglycans with scandium ions forms the basis of a spectrophotometric determination, the excess of scandium ions being determined with Xylenol Orange.  

Chondroitin 4-[ S]sulphate, which was prepared using a rat chondrosarcoma, yielded a labelled heptasaccharide having a terminal, non-reducing 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactopyranosyl 4-sulphate residue on enzymic hydrolysis.  

Chondroitin 4-sulphate and cartilagenous proteoglycans form ionic complexes with lysozyme. The complexes are solubilized by either salts or alkali, although a higher salt concentration is needed to solubilize the proteoglycan complexes. The distribution of charges on the complexes and the implications of the formation of ionic complexes in tissues were discussed. 

Self-diffusion coefficients have been measured for Na+, Ca +, and Sr + cations associated with a preparation of chondroitin 6-sulphate that also contained hyaluronic acid. These studies have implications for the transport of cations in connective tissues. 

Deaminative cleavage of heparin and reduction of the resulting disulphated disaccharide with sodium borotritide afforded 2,5-anhydro-4-0-(a-L-idopyran-uronosyl 2-sulphate)-D-[l- H]mannitol 6-sulphate, which was used as the substrate in an assay for a-L-idopyranosyluronic acid 2-sulphate sulphatase. Heparin has been labelled in vivo with S-sulphate.  

Carey Biological functions of proteoglycans Use of specific inhibitors of proteoglycan synthesis. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 104 21 (1991). 

Couchman and A. Woods Syndecans, signaling, and cell adhesion. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 61 578 (1996). 

CHAPTER 16 Carbohydrate Metabolism III Glycoproteins, Glycolipids, GPI Anchors, Proteoglycans, and Peptidoglycans 

Inki and M. Jalkanen The role of syndecan-1 in malignancies. American Journal of Medicine 28 63 (1996). 

Lidholt Biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans in mammalian cells and in bacteria. Biochemical Society Transactions 25 866 (1997). 

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Takagi M, Hishikawa H, Hosokawa Y, Kagami A and Rahemtulla F (1990) Immunohistochemical localization of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in predentin and dentin of rat incisors. J Histochem Cytochem 38, 319-324. 

Carbohydrates and fatty acids are also necessary for rapid and good-quality skin regeneration. The extracellular matrix is made up of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, which are polysaccharides linked to proteins. Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for cell membrane formation. Supplements of linoleic and linolenic acid can be recommended when the patient s blood is not properly balanced. ... 

Chemical and Biochemical Aspects of the Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans in Health and Disease John F. Kennedy... 

Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans form a water-rich protein-carbohydrate structure that absorbs compressions stresses in the extracellular matrix. 

Table 49.3. Some Specific Functions of the Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans...

Xu J, Liu M, Liu J, Caniggia I, Post M. Mechanical strain induces constitutive and regulated secretion of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in fetal lung cells. J Cell Sci 1996 109 1605-1613. 

CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THE GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS AND PROTEOGLYCANS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE... 

For the sake of completeness, readers are advised that all references on chemical and biochemical aspects of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans are now being covered annually in Specialist Periodical Reports (KIO, Kll, K14), and that this series will in future serve to update this present article on a regular basis. Furthermore the Science Citation Index (S15) is of use in this respect. 

At this stage, it is essential to give a description of the glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in terms of chemical structures. 

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