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Proteoglycan

Glycoproteins are macromolecules that are made of a protein and a carbohydrate; they are more stable than proteins by themselves and are often used in the immune system and to bridge the cellular membrane.

Proteoglycans are a special class of glycoprotein that contain extra carbohydrates; their structure is a protein with one or more glycosaminoglycan chains. Proteoglycans may contain chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparin and heparin sulfate, and keratin sulfate; these substances are associated strongly with the proper function of skin and joints.

Proteoglycans form most of the extracellular matrix, the stuff between an animal's cells. They regulate the extracellular movement of molecules, and may also affect the stability of proteins and signaling molecules. Several diseases are associated with the inability to break down proteoglycans.

Web Resources On Proteoglycan

GlycoWord: Proteoglycan
Proteoglycan Types

Book Resources On Proteoglycan

Functional and Molecular Glycobiology by SA Brooks et al
Molecular Biology of the Cell by B. Alberts et al

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