Glycosaminoglycans functions

FIGURE 9.32 Proteoglycans serve a variety of functions on the cytoplasmic and extracellular surfaces of the plasma membrane. Many of these functions appear to involve the binding of specific proteins to the glycosaminoglycan groups. 

Johnson Z, Proudfoot AE, Handel TM (2005) Interaction of chemokines and glycosaminoglycans a new twist in the regulation of chemokine function with opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 16 625-636 Jones G, Power C (2006) Regulation of neural cell survival by HIV-1 infection. Neurobiol Dis 21 1-17... 

Lau EK, Paavola CD, Johnson Z, et al. Identification of the glycosaminoglycan binding site of the CC chemokine, MCP-1 implications for structure and function in vivo. J Biol Chem 2004 279 22294-305. 

Infrared spectra are commonly used for characterizing glycosaminoglycans, especially solid samples thereof. However, being dominated by strong and broad bands due to polar and ionized groups (OH, C02 , and S03 ), the i.r. spectrum of heparin often contains concealed bands from contaminants.77 More-reproducible spectra, obtainable for solutions in H20 (Ref. 79) and D20 (Ref. 80) provide a better characterization, as well as quantitative information about such functional groups as carboxyl, acetamido, and sulfate groups. 

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