Influence of core protein sequence on glycosaminoglycan assembly.

Recent studies have revealed a correlation between amino acid sequences around glycosylation sites in proteoglycans and the ability of cells to initiate and process glycosaminoglycan chains. Initiation depends on Ser-Gly/Ala dipeptides that have one or more acidic amino acids in close proximity. The formation of heparan sulfate chains depends on a nearby cluster of acidic residues, hydrophobic amino acids, and the close spacing of glycosylation sites.