Heparan sulfate (HS) regulates the activity of many signaling molecules critical for the development of endochondral bones. Even so, mice with a genetically altered HS metabolism display a relatively Show more
Heparan sulfate (HS) regulates the activity of many signaling molecules critical for the development of endochondral bones. Even so, mice with a genetically altered HS metabolism display a relatively mild skeletal phenotype compared to the defects observed in other tissues and organs pointing to a reduced HS dependency of growth-factor signaling in chondrocytes. To understand this difference, we have investigated the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition in two mouse lines that produce either reduced levels of HS (Ext1 Show less