Separation and Identification of Glycosaminoglycans

Abstract

The term “mucopolysaccharides” was originally introduced by Meyer to describe “hexosamine-containing heteropolysaccharides of animal origin occurring in a pure state or as protein salts”. Many of the names originally assigned to the mucopolysaccharides have since been revised in an effort to systematize the nomenclature (Table 1). Jeanloz² in 1960 proposed the term “glycosaminoglycuronoglycans” in place of mucopolysaccharides as in most cases they are composed of amino sugars (glycosamino-) and uronic acids (glycurono-) joined in long chains(-glycans). For the sake of simplicity, the term “glycosaminoglycans” is getting acceptance in place of the rather lengthy term “glycosaminoglycuronoglycans” as well as the old and perhaps more familiar term “mucopolysaccharides”. As a matter of convenience, the term “polysaccharides” will be frequently used here, instead of glycosaminoglycans.