Proteoglycan

Not to be confused with peptidoglycan, glycoprotein, or glycopeptide.
Aggrecan, the major proteoglycan in cartilage, has 2316 amino acids

Proteoglycans are proteins[1] that are heavily glycosylated. The basic proteoglycan unit consists of a "core protein" with one or more covalently attached glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain(s).[2] The point of attachment is a serine (Ser) residue to which the glycosaminoglycan is joined through a tetrasaccharide bridge (e.g. chondroitin sulfate-GlcA-Gal-Gal-Xyl-PROTEIN). The Ser residue is generally in the sequence -Ser-Gly-X-Gly- (where X can be any amino acid residue but Proline), although not every protein with this sequence has an attached glycosaminoglycan. The chains are long, linear carbohydrate polymers that are negatively charged under physiological conditions due to the occurrence of sulfate and uronic acid groups. Proteoglycans occur in the connective tissue.

Types

Proteoglycans are categorized by their relative size (large and small) and the nature of their glycosaminoglycan chains.[3]

Types include:

Glycosaminoglycans Small proteoglycans Large proteoglycans
chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate decorin, 36 kDa
biglycan, 38 kDa
versican, 260-370 kDa, present in many adult tissues including blood vessels and skin
heparan sulfate/chondroitin sulfate testican, 44 kDa perlecan, 400-470 kDa
chondroitin sulfate bikunin, 25 kDa neurocan, 136 kDa
aggrecan, 220 kDa, the major proteoglycan in cartilage
brevican, 145kDa
keratan sulfate fibromodulin, 42 kDa
lumican, 38 kDa

Certain members are considered members of the "small leucine-rich proteoglycan family" (SLRP).[4] These include decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin and lumican.

Function

Proteoglycans are a major component of the animal extracellular matrix, the "filler" substance existing between cells in an organism. Here they form large complexes, both to other proteoglycans, to hyaluronan, and to fibrous matrix proteins (such as collagen). They are also involved in binding cations (such as sodium, potassium and calcium) and water, and also regulating the movement of molecules through the matrix. Evidence also shows they can affect the activity and stability of proteins and signalling molecules within the matrix. Individual functions of proteoglycans can be attributed to either the protein core or the attached GAG chain and serve as lubricants.

Synthesis

The protein component of proteoglycans is synthesized by ribosomes and translocated into the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Glycosylation of the proteoglycan occurs in the Golgi apparatus in multiple enzymatic steps. First a special link tetrasaccharide is attached to a serine side chain on the core protein to serve as a primer for polysaccharide growth. Then sugars are added one at a time by glycosyl transferase. The completed proteoglycan is then exported in secretory vesicles to the extracellular matrix of the tissue.

Clinical Significance

An inability to break down proteoglycans is characteristic of a group of genetic disorders, called mucopolysaccharidoses. The inactivity of specific lysosomal enzymes that normally degrade glycosaminoglycans leads to the accumulation of proteoglycans within cells. This leads to a variety of disease symptoms, depending upon the type of proteoglycan that is not degraded.

References

  1. Proteoglycans at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. Gerhard Meisenberg; William H. Simmons (2006). Principles of medical biochemistry. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 243–. ISBN 978-0-323-02942-1. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  3. Iozzo, RV; Schaefer, L (March 2015). "Proteoglycan form and function: A comprehensive nomenclature of proteoglycans.". Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 42: 11–55. PMID 25701227.
  4. Hans-Joachim Gabius; Sigrun Gabius (February 2002). Glycosciences: Status and Perspectives. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 209–. ISBN 978-3-527-30888-0. Retrieved 6 February 2011.

External links

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