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Heparan sulfates in skeletal muscle development and physiology
Author(s) -
Jenniskens Guido J.,
Veerkamp Jacques H.,
van Kuppevelt Toin H.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.20450
Subject(s) - skeletal muscle , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , physiology , biology , biochemistry , anatomy
Recent years have seen an emerging interest in the composition of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) and in the developmental and physiological roles of its constituents. Many cell surface‐associated and ECM‐embedded molecules occur in highly organized spatiotemporal patterns, suggesting important roles in the development and functioning of skeletal muscle. Glycans are historically underrepresented in the study of skeletal muscle ECM, even though studies from up to 30 years ago have demonstrated specific carbohydrates and glycoproteins to be concentrated in neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). Changes in glycan profile and distribution during myogenesis and synaptogenesis hint at an active involvement of glycoconjugates in muscle development. A modest amount of literature involves glycoconjugates in muscle ion housekeeping, but a recent surge of evidence indicates that glycosylation defects are causal for many congenital (neuro)muscular disorders, rendering glycosylation essential for skeletal muscle integrity. In this review, we focus on a single class of ECM‐resident glycans and their emerging roles in muscle development, physiology, and pathology: heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), notably their heparan sulfate (HS) moiety. J. Cell. Physiol. 206: 283–294, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.