Proteoglycans are some of the most elaborate macromolecules of mammalian
and lower organisms. The covalent attachment of at least five types of
glycosami- glycan side chains to more than forty individual protein
cores makes these molecules quite complex and endows them with a
multitude of biological functions. Proteoglycan Protocols offers a
comprehensive and up-to-date collection of prepa- tive and analytical
methods for the in-depth analysis of proteoglycans. Featuring st-
by-step detailed protocols, this book will enable both novice and
experienced researchers to isolate intact proteoglycans from tissues and
cultured cells, to establish the composition of their carbohydrate
moieties, to generate strategies for prokaryotic and eukaryotic
expression, to utilize methods for the suppression of specific
proteoglycan gene expression and for the detection of mutant cells and
degradation products, and to study specific interactions between
proteoglycans and extracellular matrix proteins as well as growth
factors and their receptors. The readers will find concise, yet
comprehensive techniques carefully drafted by leading experts in the
field. Each chapter commences with a general Introduction, followed by a
detailed Materials section, and an easy-to-follow Methods section. An
asset of each chapter is the extensive notation that includes
troubleshooting tips and practical considerations that are often lacking
in formal methodology papers. The reader will find this section most
valuable because it is clearly provided by experienced scientists who
have first-hand knowledge of the techniques they outline. In addition,
most of the chapters are well illustrated with examples of typical data
generated with each method.
