title: A chondroitin sulfate small molecule that stimulates neuronal growth.
abstract: Chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans are sulfated polysaccharides involved in cell division, neuronal development, and spinal cord injury. Here, we report the synthesis and identification of a chondroitin sulfate tetrasaccharide that stimulates the growth and differentiation of neurons. These studies represent the first, direct investigations into the structure-activity relationships of chondroitin sulfate using homogeneous synthetic molecules and define a tetrasaccharide as a minimal motif required for activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mabon
authors.forename: Cristal I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Sherry M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Xuewei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hsieh-Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates