title: Chemical approaches to deciphering the glycosaminoglycan code.
abstract: Glycosaminoglycans are sulfated biopolymers with rich chemical diversity and complex functions in vivo, contributing to processes ranging from cell growth and neuronal development to viral invasion and neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies suggest that glycosaminoglycans may encode information in the form of a 'sulfation code,' whereby discrete modifications to the polysaccharide backbone may direct the location or activities of proteins.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Cristal I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hsieh-Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006133:Growth Substances; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013431:Sulfates; D006493:Heparin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates