glycosaminoglycan

[ glahy-kohs-uh-mee-noh-glahy-kan ]

noun

1. any of a class of polysaccharides derived from hexosamine that form mucins when complexed with proteins: formerly called mucopolysaccharide.

glycosaminoglycan

/ glī′kōs-ə-mē′nō-glī′kăn /

1. Any of a group of polysaccharides with high molecular weight that contain amino sugars and often form complexes with proteins. Heparin is a glycosaminoglycan.
2. Also called mucopolysaccharide

Word History and Origins

Origin of glycosaminoglycan¹

1975–80; glyco- + (hexo)samine + -o- + glycan polysaccharide

Example Sentences

As expected, Friedrich and his colleagues detected glycosaminoglycans in zebrafish schreckstoff, in particular glycosaminoglycan chondroitin.

From Scientific American

When the researchers broke down the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin in schreckstoff with enzymes or rendered chondroitin inert with antibodies, they robbed schreckstoff of its power to frighten.

From Scientific American