glycosaminoglycan

plural glycosaminoglycans

1. biochemistryAny polysaccharide that is a polymer of amino sugars; they are the carbohydrate units of proteoglycans.

   1998, Christopher C. Rider, 9: Analysis of Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans, Elizabeth F. Hounsell (editor), Glycoanalysis Protocols, 2nd Edition, page 131, The biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans appears to be a ubiquitous function in mammalian cells.

   2 more examples

   Subcellular fractionation techniques have indicated that the greatest percentage of these glycosaminoglycans that is not extracted with water is contained within the microsomal fraction (36-60%).

   1982, Stanislav Reinis, Jerome Goldman, The Chemistry of Behavior: A Molecular Approach to Neuronal Plasticity, page 229

   The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of inherited disorders caused by specific enzyme deficiencies in the degradation of the glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides).

   2008, Reuben Matalon, Kimberlee Michals Matalon, Gita Bhatia, “Chapter 22: The Mucopolysaccharidoses and the Mucolipidoses”, in Roger N. Rosenberg, editor, The Molecular and Genetic Basis of Neurologic and Psychiatric Disease, 4th edition, page 245

   Synonyms: GAG, mucopolysaccharide