Human Biochemistry, Volume 2 - Murray R. 1993

Special Topics
Glycoproteins and Proteoglycans
Introduction

Glycoproteins are Proteins containing oligosaccharide (glycan) chains covalently attached to a polypeptide backbone. Glycosaminoglycans are Polysaccharides built from repeating disaccharide units that typically contain amino sugars (glucosamine or galactosamine in sulfated or unsulfated form) and a uronic acid (glucuronic or iduronic). Previously, glycosaminoglycans were referred to as mucopolysaccharides. They are typically covalently linked to a protein; a complex of one or more glycosaminoglycans with a protein is called a proteoglycan. Glycoconjugates and complex CARBOHYDRATES are equivalent terms designating molecules that contain carbohydrate chains (one or more) covalently linked to a protein or lipid. This Class of compounds includes glycoproteins, Proteoglycans, and Glycolipids.



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