ABSTRACT
The study of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and related proteoglycan (PG) structure and function has significantly influenced our understanding of a wide variety of biological processes and pharmacological applications. Historically, these cellular and extracellular macromolecules were generically designated as ‘‘ground substances’’ or ‘‘mucopolysaccharides’’ and, owing to their carbohydrate content and heterogeneity, were extremely difficult to study in relation to proteins. The advent of the field of glycobiology with tools and techniques for studying glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) has done much toward furthering appreciation of how carbohydrate moieties can affect cellular responses to a variety of stimuli.
