Biochemistry Research International

Glycosaminoglycans Metabolism


Publishing date
02 Mar 2012
Status
Published
Submission deadline
02 Sep 2011

Lead Editor

1Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

2Department of Biomaterials, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands

3Gene therapy laboratory, Liver Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences, Austral University, Pilar, Argentina

4Department of Experimental Medical Science, Biomedical Center D12, Lund University, Lund, Sweden


Glycosaminoglycans Metabolism

Description

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) can be grouped into four subfamilies named chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), heparan sulfate/heparin (HS/HE), hyaluronan (HA), and keratan sulfate (KS).

With the exception of HA, GAG chains are carried on core proteins, constituting the glucidic moieties of proteoglycan (PG) macromolecules. PGs and GAGs play multiple roles: stabilization of the fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM), control of hydration, regulation of tissue, and organism development by controlling cell cycle, cell behavior, and differentiation. The modification of the synthesis of the GAG portion of PGs during ageing or after pathological events is of fundamental importance for the understanding of matrix biology. GAGs chains, for example, interact with growth factors and morphogens; a modification of their synthesis can alter proper embryonic development, leading to severe malformations or ultimately lethality both in affected model organisms and humans. For example, kidney agenesis, cardiac malformations, abnormal mast cells, somatic overgrowth, lung dysfunction, and chondrodysplasia are some phenotypes of mice in which genes mediating GAG biosynthesis have been knocked out. Besides, alteration of GAG metabolism has been involved in tumor progression, pregnancy, and fibrosis process. On the other hand, recent studies on cell differentiation have led to the use of GAG chains in the preparation of innovative and biocompatible biomaterials for cell culture, surgery, tissue engineering applications, in certain cases in combination with growth factors, wound healing, and immunoadjuvant.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand all the various aspects in which GAGs are involved. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • GAG metabolism, synthetic pathways, enzyme regulation, and cell control on enzymes expression
  • GAG enzymes correlation: GAGosome formation, activity, and alteration
  • GAG chains catabolism, from endocitosis to degradation, lysosomal activity, and extracellular degradations
  • GAG activities, from ECM organization to cell behavior control: receptor interactions, intracellular pathways, and cellular target
  • GAG pathologies, from connective tissue to accumulation diseases
  • Nanotechnologies: innovative methods and models to study, visualize, characterize, and so forth GAG chains
  • GAGs in organisms' development
  • Use of GAG in the development of new biomaterials
  • Selective binding of growth factors to GAG for biomaterial applications
  • GAG metabolism alteration in tumor, fibrosis, or pregnancy process

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable:


Articles

  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 245792
  • - Editorial

Glycosaminoglycans Metabolism

Manuela Viola | Timothy E. L. Douglas | ... | Barbara Bartolini
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 979351
  • - Research Article

Fine Structure of Glycosaminoglycans from Fresh and Decellularized Porcine Cardiac Valves and Pericardium

Antonio Cigliano | Alessandro Gandaglia | ... | Marilena Formato
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 480529
  • - Research Article

Increased Urine IgM and IgG2 Levels, Indicating Decreased Glomerular Size Selectivity, Are Not Affected by Dalteparin Therapy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Ole Torffvit | Majid Kalani | ... | Gun Jörneskog
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 346972
  • - Review Article

Hyaluronan Regulates Cell Behavior: A Potential Niche Matrix for Stem Cells

Mairim Alexandra Solis | Ying-Hui Chen | ... | Lynn L. H. Huang
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 893947
  • - Review Article

Chain Gangs: New Aspects of Hyaluronan Metabolism

Michael Erickson | Robert Stern
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 281284
  • - Research Article

Association between Human Plasma Chondroitin Sulfate Isomers and Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques

Elisabetta Zinellu | Antonio Junior Lepedda | ... | Marilena Formato
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 859231
  • - Review Article

No-Reflow Phenomenon and Endothelial Glycocalyx of Microcirculation

Alexander V. Maksimenko | Askar D. Turashev
  • Special Issue
  • - Volume 2012
  • - Article ID 471325
  • - Review Article

Glycosaminoglycan Storage Disorders: A Review

Maria Francisca Coutinho | Lúcia Lacerda | Sandra Alves
Biochemistry Research International
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Acceptance rate8%
Submission to final decision87 days
Acceptance to publication9 days
CiteScore4.000
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Impact Factor3.0
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