PathwayStep1055 PathwayStep1098 PathwayStep1093 PathwayStep1108 Dermatan sulfate biosynthesis Chondroitin sulfate biosynthesis Chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate metabolism Authored: Jassal, B, 2011-10-21 Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG). CS chains are unbranched polysaccharides of varying length containing two alternating monosaccharides: D-glucuronic acid (GlcA) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc). The chains are usually attached to proteins forming a proteoglycan. CS is an important structural component of cartilage due to it's ability to withstand compression. It is also a widely used dietary supplement for osteoarthritis. When some of the GlcA residues are epimerized into L-iduronic acid (IdoA) the resulting disaccharide is then referred to as dermatan sulfate (DS) (Silbert & Sugumaran 2002). DS is the most predominant GAG in skin but is also found in blood vessels, heart valves, tendons, and the lungs. It may play roles in cardiovascular disease, tumorigenesis, infection, wound repair and fibrosis (Trowbridge & Gallo 2002). Edited: Jassal, B, 2011-10-21 GENE ONTOLOGYGO:0030204 Pubmed12213784 Pubmed12512856 Pubmed17239764 Reactome Database ID Release 431793185 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_121206 Reviewed: D'Eustachio, P, 2012-03-28 A tetrasaccharide linker sequence is required for GAG synthesis CS/DS degradation