Keratan Sulfate: An Electroconductive Glycosaminoglycan at the Interface of Sensory Perception and Neural Signaling
James Melrose · 2026
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Description
James Melrose reviews keratan sulfate, a sugar chain molecule found in cartilage, cornea, and other tissues, as an electrical conductor involved in nerve signalling. His 2026 narrative review argues that this glycosaminoglycan does more than provide structure and hydration.
According to the review, keratan sulfate helps stabilise ion flows and electrical gradients at cell surfaces, which set the membrane states that trigger neurons. It also interacts with kinases, growth factors, and guidance proteins that steer growing nerve fibres and wire up neural networks. Its ability to capture and shuttle protons is presented as an ultrasensitive signalling system supporting sensory perception. Melrose highlights several keratan sulfate carrying proteins and calls for more work on these roles in sensation and tissue function.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | James Melrose |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 60 KB |
| LICENSE | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |