Selective Inhibition of Heparan Sulphate and Not Chondroitin Sulphate Biosynthesis by a Small, Soluble Competitive Inhibitor.

ABSTRACT: The glycosaminoglycan, heparan sulphate (HS), orchestrates many developmental processes. Yet its biological role has not yet fully been elucidated. Small molecule chemical inhibitors can be used to perturb HS function and these compounds provide cheap alternatives to genetic manipulation methods. However, existing chemical inhibition methods for HS also interfere with chondroitin sulphate (CS), complicating data interpretation of HS function. Herein, a simple method for the selective inhibition of HS biosynthesis is described. Using endogenous metabolic sugar pathways, Ac₄GalNAz produces UDP-GlcNAz, which can target HS synthesis. Cell treatment with Ac₄GalNAz resulted in defective chain elongation of the polymer and decreased HS expression. Conversely, no adverse effe

SUBMITTER: Maciej-Hulme ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8269443 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature