Chondroitin sulfate

Chemical structure of one unit in a chondroitin sulfate chain. Chondroitin-4-sulfate: R1 = H; R2 = SO3H; R3 = H. Chondroitin-6-sulfate: R1 = SO3H; R2, R3 = H.

Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG)[1] composed of a chain of alternating sugars (N-acetylgalactosamine and glucuronic acid). It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan.[1] A chondroitin chain can have over 100 individual sugars, each of which can be sulfated in variable positions and quantities. Chondroitin sulfate is an important structural component of cartilage,[2] and provides much of its resistance to compression.[3] Along with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate has become a widely used dietary supplement for treatment of osteoarthritis, although large clinical trials failed to demonstrate any symptomatic benefit of chondroitin.

  1. ^ a b McAtee, Caitlin O.; Barycki, Joseph J.; Simpson, Melanie A. (2014-01-01), Simpson, Melanie A.; Heldin, Paraskevi (eds.), "Chapter One – Emerging Roles for Hyaluronidase in Cancer Metastasis and Therapy", Advances in Cancer Research, Hyaluronan Signaling and Turnover, 123, Academic Press: 1–34, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800092-2.00001-0, PMC 4445717, PMID 25081524
  2. ^ Klecker, Christina; Nair, Lakshmi S. (2017-01-01), Vishwakarma, Ajaykumar; Karp, Jeffrey M. (eds.), "Chapter 13 – Matrix Chemistry Controlling Stem Cell Behavior", Biology and Engineering of Stem Cell Niches, Boston: Academic Press, pp. 195–213, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-802734-9.00013-5, ISBN 978-0128027349
  3. ^ Baeurle SA, Kiselev MG, Makarova ES, Nogovitsin EA (2009). "Effect of the counterion behavior on the frictional–compressive properties of chondroitin sulfate solutions". Polymer. 50 (7): 1805–13. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2009.01.066.