ABSTRACT
Glycosaminoglycans are linear acidic polysaccharides of variable length and composition that are abundant in the extracellular matrix and the pericellular space. They consist of repeating disaccharide units with one monosaccharide usually being either glucuronic or iduronic acid, and the second either N-acetyl-Dglucosamine or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. On the basis of their composition, glycosaminoglycans are grouped into four major categories: hyaluronic acid; heparin and heparan sulfate; chrondroitin and dermatan sulfates; and keratan sulfate. With the exception of hyaluronic acid, all glycosaminoglycans can be sulfated, and in addition they can carry neutral sugars, such as D-fucose, D-galactose, Dglucose, D-mannose, or D-xylose (1-6).
