preview

Write An Essay On Glycocalyx

Better Essays

Introduction Glycocalyx is a thin gel-like carbohydrate-rich layer found on the luminal surface of the endothelial layer of blood vessels. It is linked to the endothelial layer by “backbone” molecules that consist of proteoglycans, primarily, and glycoproteins. The thickness of glycocalyx varies according to the diameter of the blood vessel. The thickness increases with the diameter of blood vessels, ranging between 4.5 µm in the carotid arteries to 2-3 µm in small arteries. In addition, glycocalyx formed by three major components that are proteoglycans, glycoproteins and soluble components1. Glycocalyx plays an important role in many pathological conditions, including diabetes, atherosclerosis2, renal failure and many other inflammatory conditions. …show more content…

The size of syndecans varies between 20 to 45 kDa depending on the syndecan’s type3. They are linked to the cellular cytoskeleton6. Therefore, they regulate the organization of cytoskeleton and actin microfilaments. They also play a role in endocytosis and the regulation of cell surface receptors during cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions7. In addition, syndecan molecule consists of four domains; a single sequence, extracellular domain that has sites for the attachment of heparin sulfate glycosaminoglycan side chains, a transmembrane region and short, highly conservative cytoplasmic domain of about 30 to 35 residues that helps in the interaction of syndecan molecules with cytoskeletal proteins5. The cytoplasmic region consists of two conserved regions; C1 (which is proximal to the plasma membrane) and C2 (which is distal to plasma membrane). A variable region is located between C1 and C2 regions3. Moreover, the extracellular domain is specific for each type of syndecan. It binds to 3 to 5 chains of HS or CS3. Syndecan-2 and 4 bind to HS while Syndecan-1 and 3 bind to CS in addition of HS3. The most prominent member of the syndecan family in the vasculature is syndecan-23. Moreover, Shedding of the extracellular of Syndecan occurs in response to complement activation8, endotoxin9, growth factors and thrombin10, serine and/or cystein proteinases11, …show more content…

HS that contains -GlcA-GlcNS6S-, -GlcA2S-GlcNS- and -GlcA-GlcNS3S- is susceptible for heparanase cleavage17. Heparanase cleaves the bond between non-sulfated glucuronic acid and glucosamine carrying an N-sulfo or both N-sulfo and O-sulfo groups. In addition, heparanase recognizes glucosamine residues that contain N-sulfo and O-sulfo groups at +1 residue of the cleavage site. If the O-sulfation is not present, heparanase recognizes GluA2S located at +/-2 residues of the cleavage site17. In addition, heparanase has two cleavage modes; consecutive cleavage and gapped cleavage. The first step in both modes is similar in which heparanase cleaves the nonreducing trisaccharide end16. In the second step of consecutive mode, the linkage between the fifth and sixth residues is cleaved. On the other hand, the linkage between the seventh and ninth residues is cleaved in the gapped mode16. Heparanase has three binding domains located in its 50 kDa fragment. The first domain contains Lys158–Asp171 residues that bind to heparin. The second domain binds to heparin sulfate. It is located in the Gln270– Lys280 residues. The third domain, located in Lys411–Arg432, does not interact with heparin/ heparin sulfate39. It has been suggested that the third domain facilitates the second step of consecutive and gapped cleavage through allostric binding

Get Access