Aggrecan

• OMIM: 155 760
• UniProt: P16112

Aggrecan (also: aggrecan ) is a protein in vertebrates. Is found mainly in the articular cartilage aggrecan (10% of cartilage weight). Here it meets with collagen fibrils elasticity tasks. This is due, inter alia, in the high water absorption capacity. Several aggrecan molecules are usually hung on a link protein to a long hyaluronic thread. The protein forms the main thread, are hung on the chondroitin sulfate or Dermatansulfatdisaccharide. Closer to hyaluronic acid can also find Keratansulfatdisacchariduntereinheiten. Mutations of the ACAN gene can lead to rare hereditary spondyloepiphysärer dysplasia.

In rheumatoid arthritis, an aggrecan deficiency can be detected. Responsible for this is most likely the enzyme ADAMTS5.