Biosynthesis and function of chondroitin sulfate

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1830; no. 10; pp. 4719 - 4733
• Main Authors: Mikami, Tadahisa, Kitagawa, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2013
• Subjects: biosynthesis; Biosynthesis/catabolism; Chondroitin sulfate; Chondroitin Sulfates - biosynthesis; Chondroitin Sulfates - physiology; enzymes; Enzymes - metabolism; Glycosaminoglycan; Glycosyltransferase; phenotype; Proteoglycan; proteoglycans; Sulfotransferase; EXT; GalNAcT; Proteoglycan; Ser; GlcAT-II; Glycosyltransferase; Chn; Biosynthesis/catabolism; EXTL; HS; D4ST; DS; DS-epi; GalT-II; GlcAT-I; GlcNAc; ChPF; GalNAc4S-6ST; HYAL; XylT; GlcA; HSV; Xyl; C6ST; ChSy; ChGn; GAG; C4ST; GalNAc; GalT-I; CS; HNK-1; FAM; Gal; Sulfotransferase; PG; UST; HA; TM; Glycosaminoglycan; Chondroitin sulfate; ChABC; GlcNAcT; serine; chondroitin synthase; β1,3-glucuronyltransferase-I; chondroitin GalNAc transferase; GalNAc transferase; GlcNAc transferase; human natural killer-1; dermatan sulfate; family with sequence similarity; GalNAc 4-sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase; hyaluronan; uronyl 2-O-sulfotransferase; chondroitin polymerizing factor; galactose; GlcA transferase-II; exostosin; β1,3-galactosyltransferase-II; mammalian hyaluronidase; xylose; EXT-like; chondroitinase ABC; herpes simplex virus; chondroitin 6-O-sulfotransferase; chondroitin; chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferase; glucuronic acid; β1,4-galactosyltransferase-I; N-acetylglucosamine; GlcA C-5 epimerase (DS epimerase); dermatan 4-O-sulfotransferase; heparan sulfate; N-acetylgalactosamine; thrombomodulin; xylosyltransferase
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 0006-3002; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.06.006

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are principal pericellular and extracellular components that form regulatory milieu involving numerous biological and pathophysiological phenomena. Diverse functions of CSPGs can be mainly attributed to structural variability of their polysaccharide moieties, chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans (CS-GAG). Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms for CS biosynthesis and its catabolic processes is required in order to understand those functions. Here, we focus on recent advances in the study of enzymatic regulatory pathways for CS biosynthesis including successive modification/degradation, distinct CS functions, and disease phenotypes that have been revealed by perturbation of the respective enzymes in vitro and in vivo. Fine-tuned machineries for CS production/degradation are crucial for the functional expression of CS chains in developmental and pathophysiological processes. Control of enzymes responsible for CS biosynthesis/catabolism is a potential target for therapeutic intervention for the CS-associated disorders. •Chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains are implicated in diverse physiological events.•CS chains are also involved in numerous pathophysiological phenomena.•We summarize the functional importance of CS chains.•We focus on how CS chains are constructed by distinct biosynthetic machineries.•Fine-tuning of CS biosynthesis is crucial for the functional expression of CS.