Previous data from our laboratory suggest that the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder secretes and binds to its surface a glycosaminoglycan. The presence of this substance at the bladder surface markedly reduces the ability of microorganisms to adhere to the mucosa. Furthermore, this glycosaminoglycan can be removed (with acid) and replaced by intravesical instillation of a syntheti...

Neoplastic mast cells of mice (including long-established and newly derived lines) were grown in large-volume suspension cultures to provide enough cells for preparation of microsomal fractions. Microsomal preparations from P815Y and P815S cells synthesized (14)C-labelled glycosaminoglycan when incubated with UDP-[(14)C]glucuronic acid and UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine. No significant amount of (14...

During group B streptococcal infection, the alpha C protein (ACP) on the bacterial surface binds to host cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) and facilitates entry of bacteria into human epithelial cells. Previous studies in a Drosophila melanogaster model showed that binding of ACP to the sulfated polysaccharide chains (glycosaminoglycans) of HSPGs promotes host death and is asso...

The anti-inflammatory drugs, sodium salicylate, indomethacin, hydrocortisone, ibuprofen, and flurbiprofen, were examined for their effects on sulphated glycosaminoglycan synthesis in aged human cartilage in vitro. Cartilage was obtained from femoral heads removed during surgery and drug effects were found to vary significantly from one head to another. Statistical analysis of the results showed...

The chemical functionalization of glycosaminoglycans is very challenging due to their structural heterogeneity and polyanionic character; but as an enabling technology it promises rich rewards in terms of the structural and biological data it will afford. This review surveys the known methods for the preparation of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides and conditions for the selective functionaliz...

Proteoglycans are widely expressed in animal cells. Interactions between negatively charged glycosaminoglycan chains and molecules such as growth factors are essential for differentiation of cells during development and maintenance of tissue organisation. We propose that glycosaminoglycan chains play a role in targeting of proteoglycans to their proper cellular or extracellular location. The va...