Glycosaminoglycans

**Definition:** Heteropolysaccharides which contain an N-acetylated hexosamine in a characteristic repeating disaccharide unit. The repeating structure of each disaccharide involves alternate 1,4- and 1,3-linkages consisting of either N-acetylglucosamine (see ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE) or N-acetylgalactosamine (see ACETYLGALACTOSAMINE).

**Tree numbers:** - D09.698.373

**Synonyms:** - Glycosaminoglycan - Mucopolysaccharides