BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY OF MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES

Mucopolysaccharides are glycosamino-glycans, i.e., heteropolysaccharides composed of hexosamines and non-nitrogenous sugars linked by glycosidic bonds; some also contain various substituent groups. The mucopolysaccharides of mammalian tissues may be classified as (1) polycarboxylates (hyaluronic acid, chondroitin), (2) polysulfates (keratan sulfates), and (3) polycarboxy-sulfates (chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates, previously designated chondroitin sulfate A and C, respectively; dermatan sulfates; and heparitin sulfates). The structure of these various mucopolysaccharides and the nature of their protein linkages is discussed. The functional role of the various mucopolysaccharides in connective tissues is still largely presumptive. They occur in different proportions in different tissues, and the pattern of distribution in the same tissue changes with maturation and aging. The importance of disturbances in the natural distribution of mucopolysaccharides is indicated by the clinical abnormalities characterizing the various mucopolysaccharidoses. © 1969.