Sulfated-Glycosaminoglycans Assay Kit

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or mucopolysaccharides are long, linear, negatively charged polysaccharides consisting of repeating disaccharide units. Based on its core disaccharide structure, GAGs are categorized into four groups, sulfated GAGs including heparin/heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate and non-sulfated GAGs including hyaluronic acid, respectively. They are the most abundant heteropolysaccharides in the human eye. They are a key constituent of the extracellular matrix and act as a filler substance between cells and fibers in tissues. They vary in molecular mass (10-100 kDa), disaccharide construction, sulfation and have diverse functions. GAGs are the structural scaffolds and provide support and adhesiveness in bone, corneas, skin and connective tissues. Additionally, GAGs play an important role in many biological processes including cell signaling, cell growth and proliferation, anti-coagulation, angiogenesis, tumor progression, etc. GAGs are degraded in the lysosome via four different pathways. However, patients with the lysosomal storage disorder known as mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) have impaired lysosomal break down of GAGs and hence have higher levels of GAGs in their tissues or urine. Abnormal accumulation of GAGs in cells, blood and connective tissues over time can lead to permanent cell damage that can affect appearance, movement and functioning of organs. BioVision’s Sulfated-Glycosaminoglycans Assay Kit efficiently detects all sulfated GAGs including heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and keratan sulfate in various biological samples. In this assay, a cationic dye, 1,9-dimethylmethlene Blue (DMMB) specifically interacts with the highly negatively charged sulfated GAGs to produce a colored product, which is measured at absorbance 525 nm. The colored signal is directly proportional to the concentration of sulfated GAGs in the sample. The kit offers a simple, rapid, sensitive and convenient way to measure the amount of sulfated GAGs in samples. It can detect as low as 0.5 μg of sulfated GAGs under the assay conditions.