Heparan sulfate (HS) is a linear polysaccharide found in all animal tissues. It occurs as a proteoglycan (HSPG) in which two or three HS chains are attached in close proximity to cell surface or extracellular matrix proteins. It is in this form that HS binds to a variety of protein ligands and regulates a wide variety of biological activities, including developmental processes, angiogenesis, blood coagulation and tumour metastasis. HS has been shown to serve as cellular receptor for a number of viruses including the respiratory syncytial virus (Hallak et al. 2000)
Read more about Heparan Sulfate: Proteoglycans, HS Structure and Differences From Heparin, HS Biosynthesis, Heparan Sulfate Analogue