ACAN

This gene is a member of the aggrecan/versican proteoglycan family. The encoded protein is an integral part of the extracellular matrix in cartilagenous tissue and it withstands compression in cartilage. Mutations in this gene may be involved in skeletal dysplasia and spinal degeneration. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants that encode different protein isoforms have been observed in this gene.

Aggrecan

This proteoglycan is a major component of extracellular matrix of cartilagenous tissues. A major function of this protein is to resist compression in cartilage. It binds avidly to hyaluronic acid via an N-terminal globular region.

Cell adhesion
Central nervous system development
Extracellular matrix organization
Keratan sulfate biosynthetic process
Keratan sulfate catabolic process
Proteolysis
Skeletal system development

Extracellular matrix

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasias are a heterogeneous group of congenital chondrodysplasias that specifically affect epiphyses and vertebrae. The autosomal dominant SEDK is associated with premature degenerative arthropathy.
A bone disease characterized by severe short stature, macrocephaly, severe midface hypoplasia, short neck, barrel chest and brachydactyly. The radiological findings comprise long bones with generalized irregular epiphyses with widened metaphyses, especially at the knees, platyspondyly, and multiple cervical-vertebral clefts.
An autosomal dominant disease characterized by short stature, advanced bone maturation, early-onset osteoarthritis, and mild dysmorphic features consisting of midface hypoplasia, brachydactyly, broad great toes, and lumbar lordosis. Other features include intervertebral disk disease and osteochondritis dissecans. Osteochondritis dissecans is defined as a separation of cartilage and subchondral bone from the surrounding tissue.

Contains mostly chondroitin sulfate, but also keratan sulfate chains, N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. The release of aggrecan fragments from articular cartilage into the synovial fluid at all stages of human osteoarthritis is the result of cleavage by aggrecanase.