---
_id: '555'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: Conventional wisdom has it that proteins fold and assemble into definite structures,
and that this defines their function. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are different.
In most cases the structures they form have a low degree of order, even when interacting
with proteins. Here, we discuss how physical features common to all GAGs — hydrophilicity,
charge, linearity and semi-flexibility — underpin the overall properties of GAG-rich
matrices. By integrating soft matter physics concepts (e.g. polymer brushes and
phase separation) with our molecular understanding of GAG–protein interactions,
we can better comprehend how GAG-rich matrices assemble, what their properties
are, and how they function. Taking perineuronal nets (PNNs) — a GAG-rich matrix
enveloping neurons — as a relevant example, we propose that microphase separation
determines the holey PNN anatomy that is pivotal to PNN functions.
acknowledgement: "This work was supported by the European Research Council [Starting
Grant 306435 ‘JELLY’; to RPR], the Spanish Ministry of Competitiveness and Innovation
[MAT2014-54867-R, to RPR], the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Tissue Engineering
and Regenerative Medicine — Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering [EP/L014823/1,
to JCFK], the Royal Society [RG160410, to JCFK], Wings for Life [WFL-UK-008/15,
to JCFK] and the European Union, the Operational Programme Research, Development
and Education in the framework of the project ‘Centre of Reconstructive Neuroscience’
[CZ.02.1.01/0.0./0.0/15_003/0000419, to JCFK]. AJD would like to thank Arthritis
Research UK [16539, 19489] and the MRC [76445, G0900538] for funding his work on
GAG–protein interactions.\r\n"
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Ralf
full_name: Richter, Ralf
last_name: Richter
- first_name: Natalia
full_name: Baranova, Natalia
id: 38661662-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
last_name: Baranova
orcid: 0000-0002-3086-9124
- first_name: Anthony
full_name: Day, Anthony
last_name: Day
- first_name: Jessica
full_name: Kwok, Jessica
last_name: Kwok
citation:
ama: 'Richter R, Baranova NS, Day A, Kwok J. Glycosaminoglycans in extracellular
matrix organisation: Are concepts from soft matter physics key to understanding
the formation of perineuronal nets? Current Opinion in Structural Biology.
2018;50:65-74. doi:10.1016/j.sbi.2017.12.002'
apa: 'Richter, R., Baranova, N. S., Day, A., & Kwok, J. (2018). Glycosaminoglycans
in extracellular matrix organisation: Are concepts from soft matter physics key
to understanding the formation of perineuronal nets? Current Opinion in Structural
Biology. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2017.12.002'
chicago: 'Richter, Ralf, Natalia S. Baranova, Anthony Day, and Jessica Kwok. “Glycosaminoglycans
in Extracellular Matrix Organisation: Are Concepts from Soft Matter Physics Key
to Understanding the Formation of Perineuronal Nets?” Current Opinion in Structural
Biology. Elsevier, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbi.2017.12.002.'
ieee: 'R. Richter, N. S. Baranova, A. Day, and J. Kwok, “Glycosaminoglycans in extracellular
matrix organisation: Are concepts from soft matter physics key to understanding
the formation of perineuronal nets?,” Current Opinion in Structural Biology,
vol. 50. Elsevier, pp. 65–74, 2018.'
ista: 'Richter R, Baranova NS, Day A, Kwok J. 2018. Glycosaminoglycans in extracellular
matrix organisation: Are concepts from soft matter physics key to understanding
the formation of perineuronal nets? Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 50,
65–74.'
mla: 'Richter, Ralf, et al. “Glycosaminoglycans in Extracellular Matrix Organisation:
Are Concepts from Soft Matter Physics Key to Understanding the Formation of Perineuronal
Nets?” Current Opinion in Structural Biology, vol. 50, Elsevier, 2018,
pp. 65–74, doi:10.1016/j.sbi.2017.12.002.'
short: R. Richter, N.S. Baranova, A. Day, J. Kwok, Current Opinion in Structural
Biology 50 (2018) 65–74.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:47:09Z
date_published: 2018-06-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2023-09-11T14:07:03Z
day: '01'
department:
- _id: MaLo
doi: 10.1016/j.sbi.2017.12.002
external_id:
isi:
- '000443661300011'
intvolume: ' 50'
isi: 1
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
url: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/125524/
month: '06'
oa: 1
oa_version: Submitted Version
page: 65 - 74
publication: Current Opinion in Structural Biology
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
publist_id: '7259'
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: 'Glycosaminoglycans in extracellular matrix organisation: Are concepts from
soft matter physics key to understanding the formation of perineuronal nets?'
type: journal_article
user_id: c635000d-4b10-11ee-a964-aac5a93f6ac1
volume: 50
year: '2018'
...