[Biochemistry and pathobiochemistry of proteoglycans of the eye].

Proteoglycans are a family of protein polysaccharide conjugates that fulfill various functions in the macromolecular organization of the human eye. The high hydrodynamic volume of the proteoglycans, the large polyanionic domain of their polysaccharide chains, the specific primary structure of their protein moiety and their localization both on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix enable the proteinglycans to regulate cell growth and development, assembly of the extracellular matrix components and cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions. Proteoglycans containing chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and heparan sulfate have been found to be structural and functional elements of the eye. This is exemplified by the corneal stroma, corneal endothelial cells, vitrous body, photoreceptor cells, and retinal pigment epithelium.