| Definition | A naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan found mostly in the skin and in connective tissue. It differs from chondroitin sulfate A (see chondroitin sulfateS) by containing Iduronic acid in place of glucuronic acid, its epimer, at carbon atom 5. (from Merck, 12th ed)
Dermatan sulfate consists of sulfated N-acetylgalactosamine alternating with uronic acid residues. The latter are predominantly L-Iduronic acid, some of which are sulfated; there are also occasional glucuronic acid residues. Degradation proceeds stepwise from the nonreducing end by the sequential action of three exo-glycosidases (alpha-L-iduronidase, beta-glucuronidase, and beta-hexosaminidase) and two sulfatases (iduronate 2-sulfatase and N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfatase). An endoglycosidase, hyaluronidase, may also participate to a limited extent in the degradation process by cleaving next to the occasional glucuronic acid residues. -- OMMBID 136-2 [HMDB] |
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