TABLE 1.
Structures and tissue distribution of glycosaminoglycans.
| Glycosaminoglycans | Degree of sulfation per disaccharide unit | Molecular weight range | Tissue distribution | |
| Heparin/Heparan sulfate (HS) |  |
Heparin about 1.8∼2.4 | Heparin about 3∼30 kDa | Heparin in liver, lungs and skin; |
| HS about 0.8∼1.8 | HS about 10∼100 kDa | HS was widely distributed on the cell surface. | ||
| Chondroitin sulfate (CS) |  |
0.1–1.3 | 5∼50 kDa | cartilage, tendon, aorta, ligament |
| Dermatan sulfate (DS) |  |
< 1 | 15∼40 kDa | skin, blood vessels, heart valves |
| Hyaluronic acid (HA) |  |
0 | 4∼12000 kDa | synovial fluid, vitreous humour, ECM of loose connective tissue |
| Keratan sulfate (KS) |  |
< 1 | 5∼25 kDa | KS I in cornea; KS II in cartilage aggregated; KS III in brain tissue |