Keratan sulfate
Keratan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found on proteoglycans. It is abundant in the cornea, cartilage, and brain. Keratan sulfate is unique among the GAGs in that it does not contain uronic acid and is not sulfated at the C-5 position of the sugar residue.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Keratan sulfate consists of a repeating disaccharide unit of galactose and N-acetylglucosamine. The galactose residues can be sulfated at the 6-position and the N-acetylglucosamine residues can be sulfated at the 6-position. The degree of sulfation varies among tissues and species.
Function[edit | edit source]
Keratan sulfate plays a crucial role in maintaining the transparency of the cornea. It also contributes to the compressive resistance and elasticity of cartilage. In the brain, keratan sulfate is involved in neuronal plasticity and axon guidance.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Defects in the metabolism of keratan sulfate can lead to a variety of lysosomal storage diseases, including Morquio syndrome and Macular corneal dystrophy. These diseases are characterized by the accumulation of keratan sulfate in tissues and organs, leading to a range of symptoms such as skeletal abnormalities, corneal clouding, and cognitive impairment.
See also[edit | edit source]
.svg){kind=small} | This biochemistry article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
