[Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans].

Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Numerous studies focused on glycosaminoglycans have provided evidence for a relationship between the distribution of these macromolecules in the connective tissue and their structure as well as their ionic and mechanic properties. However, a major advance has been made recently with the cloning of the genes coding for the protein cores of proteoglycans, which established not only the high structural diversity of the proteoglycans but also their activity to self-aggregate and to interact with other macromolecules of the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, the finding that the biosynthesis of proteoglycans is regulated by several exocrine factors and also the fact that they are differentially located within the cell or on their surface pointed to the importance of the potential role of these macromolecules in several biological processes including: inhibition of coagulation, control of lipolysis, cell-to-cell and cell-matrix recognition and communication, adherence, modulation of biological responses to various agents such as growth factors, secretagogues, oncogens and mitogens.