molecules Review Chemical Modification of Glycosaminoglycan Polysaccharides Lais C. G. F. Palhares 1 , James A. London 2 , Aleksandra M. Kozlowski 3, Emiliano Esposito 4, Suely F. Chavante 1, Minghong Ni 4 and Edwin A. Yates 2,* 1 Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59012-570, Brazil;
[email protected] (L.C.G.F.P.);
[email protected] (S.F.C.) 2 Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, ISMIB, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK;
[email protected] 3 Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Forest Products and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 4, 412 58 Göteborg, Sweden;
[email protected] 4 Instituto di Richerche Chemiche e Biochemiche, ‘G.Ronzoni’, Via G Colombo 81, 20133 Milano, Italy;
[email protected] (E.E.);
[email protected] (M.N.) * Correspondence:
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[email protected]; Tel.: +44-151-795-4429 Abstract: The linear anionic class of polysaccharides, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), are critical throughout the animal kingdom for developmental processes and the maintenance of healthy tissues. They are also of interest as a means of influencing biochemical processes. One member of the GAG family, heparin, is exploited globally as a major anticoagulant pharmaceutical and there is a growing interest in the potential of other GAGs for diverse applications ranging from skin care to the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, and from the treatment and prevention of microbial infection to biotechnology. To realize the potential of GAGs, however, it is necessary to develop effective tools that are able to exploit the chemical manipulations to which GAGs are susceptible.