Insoluble non-collagenous cartilage glycoproteins with aggregating sub-units

Abstract

Two insoluble non-collagenous glycoprotein fractions (A and G) have been separated from puppy rib cartilage, following extraction of most of the proteoglycan and digestion of the insoluble residue with purified collagenase. After reduction, alkylation and extraction with sodium dodecylsulfate most of each protein is solubilized. Gel electrophoresis of solubilized A or G shows the presence of either one or two bands and gel chromatography shows both high and low molecular weight peaks. The production of a low molecular weight electrophoresis band from the high molecular weight Sephadex fraction indicates that there is aggregation and disaggregation of sub-units in sodium dodecylsulfate. Both A and G are high in aspartate plus glutamate and have a low hydroxyproline content. The insoluble A and G both contain hexose, uronic acid, galactosamine, glucosamine and a small amount of sialic acid, but they differ in their contents of hexose and six amino acids. They both form single bands in CsCl gradients but they differ in density. Electron microscopy shows that both insoluble glycoprotein fractions stain with lead, ruthenium red, or alcian blue plus phosphotungstate and that G contains many fine filaments. Material with the same appearance and staining properties was found to occur on the surface of collagen fibres in the undigested cartilage residue.