GLYCOSAMINOGLICAN

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or mucopolysaccharides are long, linear polysaccharides consisting of repeating disaccharide units (i.e. two-sugar units). The repeating two-sugar unit consists of a uronic sugar and an amino sugar, except in the case of the sulfated glycosaminoglycan keratan, where, in place of the uronic sugar there is a galactose unit. GAGs are found in vertebrates, invertebrates and bacteria. Because GAGs are highly polar molecules and attract water; the body uses them as lubricants or shock absorbers. Mucopolysaccharidoses are a group of metabolic disorders in which abnormal accumulations of glycosaminoglycans occur due to enzyme deficiencies. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are long, linear polysaccharides made of repeating two-sugar (disaccharide) units, which are usually a uronic sugar and an amino sugar, except for keratan, which has a galactose unit instead of a uronic sugar. Found in various organisms, these highly polar and water-attracting molecules act as lubricants and shock absorbers in the body, while mucopolysaccharidoses are genetic disorders characterized by the abnormal buildup of GAGs due to enzyme deficiencies.