Cartilage contains a variety of proteoglycans that are essential for its normal …

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Aggrecan
• Link Protein
• Hyaluronan
• SLRPs
• Conclusion
• References
• Figures

Biology Articles » Biochemistry » The Structure and Function of Cartilage Proteoglycans

Abstract

- The Structure and Function of Cartilage Proteoglycans

P.J. Roughley*

Genetics Unit, Shriners Hospital for Children and Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Cartilage contains a variety of proteoglycans that are essential for its normal function. These include aggrecan, decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin and lumican. Each proteoglycan serves several functions that are determined by both its core protein and its glycosaminoglycan chains. This review discusses the structure/function relationships of the cartilage proteoglycans, and the manner in which perturbations in proteoglycan structure or abundance can adversely affect tissue function.

Key Words: Proteoglycan, aggrecan, link protein, hyaluronan, decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, lumican, cartilage.

Source: European Cells and Materials  Vol. 12. 2006 (pages 92 - 101).