Glycosaminoglycans in Cortical Autopsy Samples from Alzheimer Brain

Each of the known classes of mammalian glycosaminoglycans, with the exception of keratan sulphate, was found in cerebral cortex samples from patients with Alzheimer-type dementia and age-matched controls. These molecules were quantitated, after electrophoresis and staining with Alcian Blue dye, by scanning densitometry. No significant differences were found between the mean levels of each of the above glycosaminoglycans in frontal cortex from patients with dementia compared with controls. An increase (26%; p less than 0.05) in the mean level of hyaluronate, but not of other glycosaminoglycans, was found in temporal cortex samples. On the other hand, the uronic acid content of hyaluronate degradation products following Streptomyces hyaluronidase treatment of brain glycosaminoglycans did not reveal any statistically significant changes in Alzheimer's disease. HPLC of disaccharide products from Arthrobacter chondroitinase AC digests did not reveal any significant changes in sulphate substitution of chondroitin sulphate in Alzheimer brain.     

The nature and origin of the glycosaminoglycans of the embryonic chick vitreous body

Glycosaminoglycans of the embryonic chicken vitreous were characterized and then were used as markers to establish which tissues synthesize the vitreous humor during development. The glycosaminoglycans are predominantly chondroitin sulfates by several criteria. They are resistant to streptomyces hyaluronidase, an enzyme which degrades only hyaluronate, and are digested by testicular hyaluronidase and chondroitinase AC, enzymes which degrade hyaluronate plus chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates. On electrophoresis on cellulose acetate in 0.15 M phosphate buffer, pH 6.7, the vitreous glycosaminoglycans migrate slightly slower than authentic chondroitin sulfate, but, in 0.1 N HCl, they migrate very close to chondroitin sulfate standards. Finally, the disaccharides produced by digestion of these radioactively labeled glycosaminoglycans with chondroitinases AC and ABC were identified as Δdi-4S and Δdi-6S, as expected for chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfate. By using incorporation of radioactive precursors into chondroitin sulfates in vitro, we than determined which tissues synthesize the vitreous humor in the developing eye. Late in development, on Day 12–13, the isolated vitreous is very active in chondroitin sulfate synthesis, while the neural retina, the lens, and the pecten are less active and produce a high proportion of enzyme-resistant GAG. The eye tissues isolated from embryos labeled in ovo retain similar amounts and types of glycosaminoglycans, indicating that cells within the vitreous synthesize the vitreous humor glycosaminoglycans at this time. Earlier in development, from Days 6 to 8, the isolated vitreous incorporates very low levels of radioactivity into GAG, but the neural retina incorporates high levels of radioactivity into chondroitin sulfate. When the embryos are labeled in ovo and the same tissues are isolated following incorporation, the vitreous retains more radioactive chondroitin sulfate than does the neural retina. Thus, the vitreous humour glycosaminoglycan is initially synthesized by the neural retina and is secreted into the vitreous space.     

Proteoglycans of the intervertebral disc. Homology of structure with laryngeal proteoglycans.

The structure of the proteoglycans from normal pig nucleus pulposus and relatively normal human annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus was investigated in detail and the results were compared with the current structural model of proteoglycans of hyaline cartilage. Like proteoglycans of cartilage, those of intervertebral disc contain keratan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate attached to a protein core; they are able to aggregate to hyaluronic acid; the protein core likewise has three regions, one lacking glycosaminoglycans, another rich in keratan sulphate and a third region rich in chondroitin sulphate. However, disc proteoglycans contain more keratan sulphate and protein and less chondroitin sulphate and are also considerably smaller than cartilage proteoglycans. In proteoglycans of human discs, these differences appeared to be due principally to a shorter region of the core protein bearing the chondroitin sulphate chains, whereas in proteoglycans of pig discs their smaller size and relatively low uronic acid content were due to shorter chondroitin sulphate chains. There were subtle differences between proteoglycans from the nucleus and annulus of human discs. In the latter a higher proportion of proteoglycans was capable of binding to hyaluronate.     

Comparative study on glycosaminoglycans synthesized in peripheral and peritoneal polymorphonuclear leucocytes from guinea pigs.

Glycosaminoglycans synthesized in polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes isolated from blood (peripheral PMN leucocytes) and in those induced intraperitoneally by the injection of caseinate (peritoneal PMN leucocytes) were compared. Both peripheral and peritoneal PMN leucocytes were incubated in medium containing [35S]sulphate and [3H]glucosamine. Each sample obtained after incubation was separated into cell, cell-surface and medium fractions by trypsin digestion and centrifugation. The glycosaminoglycans secreted from peripheral and peritoneal PMN leucocytes were decreased in size by alkali treatment, indicating that they existed in the form of proteoglycans. Descending paper chromatography of the unsaturated disaccharides obtained by the digestion of glycosaminoglycans with chondroitinase AC and chondroitinase ABC identified the labelled glycosaminoglycans of both the cell and the medium fractions in peripheral PMN leucocytes as 55-58% chondroitin 4-sulphate, 16-19% chondroitin 6-sulphate, 16-19% dermatan sulphate and 6-8% heparan sulphate. Oversulphated chondroitin sulphate and oversulphated dermatan sulphate were found only in the medium fraction. In peritoneal PMN leucocytes there is a difference in the composition of glycosaminoglycans between the cell and the medium fractions; the cell fraction was composed of 60% chondroitin 4-sulphate, 5.5% chondroitin 6-sulphate, 16.8% dermatan sulphate and 13.9% heparan sulphate, whereas the medium fraction consisted of 24.5% chondroitin 4-sulphate, 28.2% chondroitin 6-sulphate, 33.7% dermatan sulphate and 10% heparan sulphate. Oversulphated chondroitin sulphate and oversulphated dermatan sulphate were found in the cell, cell-surface and medium fractions. On the basis of enzymic assays with chondro-4-sulphatase and chondro-6-sulphatase, the positions of sulphation in the disulphated disaccharides were identified as 4- and 6-positions of N-acetylgalactosamine. Most of the 35S-labelled glycosaminoglycans synthesized in peripheral PMN leucocytes were retained within cells, whereas those in peritoneal PMN leucocytes were secreted into the culture medium. Moreover, the amount of glycosaminoglycans in peritoneal PMN leucocytes was significantly less than that in peripheral PMN leucocytes. Assay of lysosomal enzymes showed that these activities in peritoneal PMN leucocytes were 2-fold higher than those in peripheral PMN leucocytes.     

Isolation and characterization of proteoglycans secreted by normal and malignant human mammary epithelial cells

The proteoglycans secreted by a malignant human breast cell line (MDA-MB-231) were compared with the corresponding proteoglycans from a normal human breast cell line (HBL-100). The physicochemical characteristics of these proteoglycans were established by hexosamine analysis, chemical and enzymatic degradations, and dissociative cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation, and by gel filtration before and after alkaline beta-elimination. Both cell lines secreted approximately 70% of the synthesized proteoglycans, which were composed of 20% heparan sulfate and 80% chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. The MDA cell line secreted large hydrodynamic size (major) and small hydrodynamic size heparan sulfate proteoglycan. In contrast HBL cells secreted only one species having a hydrodynamic size intermediate to the above two. The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans from MDA medium were slightly larger than the corresponding polymers from HBL medium. All proteoglycans except the small hydrodynamic size heparan sulfate proteoglycan from MDA medium were of high buoyant density. The proteoglycans of both cell lines contained significant proportions of disulfide-linked lower molecular weight components which were more pronounced in the proteoheparan sulfate polymers, particularly those from MDA medium, than in chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. The glycosaminoglycans of heparan sulfate proteoglycans from MDA medium were more heterogeneous than those from HBL medium. The glycosaminoglycan chains of large hydrodynamic size heparan sulfate proteoglycans from MDA medium were larger in size than those from HBL medium while small hydrodynamic size heparan sulfate proteoglycans contained shorter glycosaminoglycan chains. In contrast to the glycosaminoglycans derived from chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of both MDA and HBL medium were comparable in size. The heparan sulfate as well as chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of both cell lines contained both neutral (di- and tetrasaccharides) and sialylated (tri- to hexasaccharides) O-linked oligosaccharides.     

Postnatal development of rat lung. Changes in lung lectin, elastin, acetylcholinesterase and other enzymes

Non-pregnant and pregnant rats of known gestational age were killed at intervals and their uterine cervices were excised and digested with papain. Glycosaminoglycans thus extracted were separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and stained with Alcian Blue. Glycosaminoglycans were identified by comparison with standards and by serial degradation with chondroitin ABC lyase, butyl nitrite and leech hyaluronidase. Dermatan sulphate, hyaluronic acid and heparan sulphate were identified and quantitative determined by densitometry. The overall concentration of glycosaminoglycans changed little during pregnancy. A 3-fold total increase in uronic acid paralleled the increase in cervical weight. Hyaluronate content, however, increased 17-fold, and rose from 6% of total glycosaminoglycans in the non-pregnant state to 33% at term. Furthermore, the ratio of hyaluronate to hydroxyproline increased 10-fold. These changes are consistent with an accumulation of hyaluronate in the interstices between collagen fibres, resulting in the softening of this tissue that is seen in late pregnancy.     

Proteoglycans synthesized in vitro by nude and normal mouse peritoneal macrophages

Peritoneal macrophages from nude mice were found to be functionally similar to 'activated' macrophages from normal mice. The objective of the present study was to characterize the proteoglycans synthesized and secreted in vitro by peritoneal macrophages isolated from nude and normal Balb/c mice and to investigate the relationship between macrophage 'activation' and changes in the proteoglycan patterns. Macrophages obtained by peritoneal lavage were seeded in Petri dishes. After 2 h incubation at 37 degrees C, the adherent cells (macrophages) were exposed to [35S]sulphate for the biosynthetic labelling of proteoglycans. After incubation, the cell and medium fractions were collected and analysed for proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. The glycosaminoglycans were identified and characterized by a combination of agarose gel electrophoresis and enzymatic degradation with specific mucopolysaccharidases. It was shown that 3/4 of the total 35S-labelled glycosaminoglycans were in the extracellular compartment after 24-48 h. The macrophages synthesized dermatan sulphate (68%), chondroitin sulphate (7%) and heparan sulphate (25%). Both cell and medium fractions of normal and nude mouse macrophages contained glycosaminoglycans with the same ratios, although the nude mouse macrophages synthesized 2-fold less glycosaminoglycans than the normal mouse macrophages. Lower levels of 35S-proteoglycans were also obtained from in vitro 'activated' macrophages, but the ratios of dermatan sulphate:chondroitin sulphate: heparan sulphate were altered in these cells as compared to the control. Furthermore, all the 35S-macromolecules found in the extracellular compartment of nude and normal control cells were of proteoglycan nature, in contrast to the medium fractions of 'activated' macrophages, which contain both intact proteoglycans and 'free' glycosaminoglycan chains. These results indicate that, at least as regards the proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, the nude mouse macrophages are not identical to the 'activated' macrophages from normal mice.     

Developmental and Age-Related Changes in Rat Brain Glycosaminoglycans

The quantities of each major class of glycosaminoglycan were determined in rat cerebrum from postnatal day 5 to 30 months of age. Chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate, heparan sulphate, heparin, and hyaluronate were found, but no keratan sulphate was detected. Large and rapid changes in glycosaminoglycan content were observed during the period of brain maturation, and thereafter relatively steady levels were maintained until after the age of 12 months. The most remarkable change in the aged rat cerebrum was the ratio by weight of hyaluronate to chondroitin sulphate, which was approximately 1:1 from postnatal day 10 to 18 months but increased to 2.6:1 by the age of 30 months. In immature rats, the proportion of nonsulphated and 6-sulphated disaccharides derived from chondroitinase AC digests of brain glycosaminoglycans was much greater than in adults. In mature rats, chondroitin sulphate was composed almost entirely of 4-sulphated disaccharide subunits. The possibility that these changes could affect the permeability properties of the cerebral extracellular space and ionic equilibria in the brain is discussed.     

Absence of keratan sulphate from skeletal tissues of mouse and rat.

The absence of keratan sulphate synthesis from skeletal tissues of young and mature mice and rats has been confirmed by (1) analysis of specific enzyme degradation products of newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans, and (2) immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay using a monoclonal antibody directed against keratan sulphate. Approx. 98% of the [35S]glycosaminoglycans synthesized in vivo by mouse and rat costal cartilage, and all of those of lumbar disc, are chondroitin sulphate. The remainder in costal cartilage were identified as heparan sulphate in mature rats. In contrast, [35S]glycosaminoglycans synthesized by cornea of both species comprised both chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate. In mice keratan sulphate accounted for 12-25% and in rats 40-50% of the total [35S]glycosaminoglycans, depending on the age of the animal. Experiments in vitro with organ culture of cartilage and cornea confirm these results. Absence of keratan sulphate from mouse costal cartilage and lumbar disc D1-proteoglycans was corroborated by inhibition radioimmunoassay with the monoclonal antibody MZ15 and by lack of staining for keratan sulphate in indirect immunofluorescence studies using the same antibody.     

Glycosaminoglycans of arterial basement membrane-like material from cultured rabbit aortic myomedial cells

Arterial basement membrane-like material was prepared by a sonication-differential centrifugation technique from cultures of rabbit aortic myomedial cells after metabolic labelling with [35S]sulphate and [3H]glucosamine. Labelled glycosaminoglycans were obtained from isolated basement membrane-like material by proteinase digestion and gel filtration. Glycosaminoglycans were identified by a combination of Sephadex G-50 chromatography and sequential degradation with nitrous acid, Streptomyces hyaluronidase, testicular hyaluronidase and chondroitinase ABC. The data showed that heparan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate were the predominant glycosaminoglycans of myomedial basement membrane-like material. Heparan sulphate accounted for about 55% of [3H]glucosamine-labelled glycosaminoglycans. In addition small amounts of hyaluronic acid was present. Only trace amounts of dermatan sulphate was found. The glycosaminoglycans were analysed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Two major peaks were found in the chromatogram consistent with the predominance of heparan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate.     

Effects of hyaluronate and heparan sulphate on collagen-fibronectin interactions

Interactions of fibronectin and glycosaminoglycans and the involvement of heparan sulphate and hyaluronate in fibronectin-collagen interactions have been studied by affinity chromatography. Partially periodate-oxidized glycosaminoglycans were coupled to adipic acid dihydrazide-substituted agarose. The elution of fibronectin was performed by using increasing concentrations of NaCl. Of the copolymeric glycosaminoglycans, heparin and self-associating heparan sulphates display the highest affinity towards fibronectin while hyaluronic acid and chondroitin 6-sulphate do not bind fibronectin. Competitive release experiments suggest the existence of common binding sites for copolymeric glycosaminoglycans on the fibronectin backbone. Heparan sulphate favours the formation of collagen-fibronectin complexes at low molarity, while hyaluronate is ineffective at low concentrations and prevents the formation of complexes when present at concentrations > 1 mg ml^?1. It is suggested that heparan sulphate promotes the formation of complexes which bind with fibronectin thus producing steric changes that increase the affinity for collagen, while hyaluronate prevents the binding of fibronectin to collagen by a steric exclusion mechanism.     

Turnover of proteoglycans in articular-cartilage cultures. Characterization of proteoglycans released into the medium.

By using an e.l.i.s.a. method it was demonstrated that the majority of proteoglycans released into the medium of both control and retinoic acid-treated explant cultures of bovine articular cartilage did not contain a hyaluronate-binding region. This supports our previous findings [Campbell & Handley (1987) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 258, 143-155] that proteoglycans released into the medium of both cultures were of smaller hydrodynamic size, more polydisperse and unable to form aggregates with hyaluronate. Analysis of 35S-labelled core proteins associated with proteoglycans released into the medium of both cultures by using SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and fluorography indicated the presence of a series of core-protein bands (Mr approx. 300,000, 230,000, 215,000, 200,000, 180,000, 140,000, 135,000, 105,000, 85,000 and 60,000) compared with three core proteins derived from the proteoglycans remaining in the matrix (Mr 300,000, 230,000 and 215,000). Further analysis of the core proteins released into the medium indicated that the larger core proteins associated with medium proteoglycans contain both chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate glycosaminoglycans whereas the smaller core proteins contain only chondroitin sulphate chains. These experiments provide definitive evidence that the loss of proteoglycans from the matrix involves proteolytic cleavage at various sites along the proteoglycan core protein.     

Isolation and chemical study of the glycosaminoglycans from squid cornea

1. Oversulphated chondroitin sulphate (ca 93% of tissue glycosaminoglycans) with average molecular weight 72,500, chondroitin sulphate (5%) and small amounts of lowsulphated chondroitin sulphate were isolated from squid cornea. 2. The sulphation pattern of oversulphated chondroitin sulphate was delta di-4S (52%), delta di-diSD (28%), delta di-6S (9%) and delta di-OSCS (11%) and that of chondroitin sulphate 49, 1, 20 and 30% respectively. 3. All glycosaminoglycans contained neutral monosaccharides, glucose being the predominant neutral monosaccharide in oversulphated chondroitin sulphate and chondroitin sulphate and fucose in low-sulphated chondroitin sulphate. 4. Although L-iduronic acid was not detected, the digestion of oversulphated chondroitin sulphate with chondroitinases ABC and AC gave unexpected results.     

Aortic endothelial cells synthesize a large chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan capable of binding to hyaluronate.

Confluent cultures of mouse aortic endothelial (END-D) were incubated with either [35S]methionine or 35SO4 2-, and the radiolabelled proteoglycans in media and cell layers were analysed for their hyaluronate-binding activity. The proteoglycan subfraction which bound to hyaluronate accounted for about 18% (media) and 10% (cell layers) of the total 35S radioactivity of each proteoglycan fraction. The bound proteoglycan molecules could be dissociated from the aggregates either by digestion with hyaluronate lyase or by treatment with hyaluronate decasaccharides. Digestion of [methionine-35S]proteoglycans with chondroitinase and/or heparitinase, followed by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, indicated that the medium and cell layer contain at least three chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans, one dermatan sulphate proteoglycan, and two heparan sulphate proteoglycans which differ from one another in the size of core molecules. Among these, only the hydrodynamically large chondroitin sulphate species with an Mr 550,000 core molecule was shown to bind to hyaluronate. A very similar chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan capable of binding to hyaluronate was also found in cultures of calf pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (A.T.C.C. CCL 209). These observations, together with the known effects of hyaluronate on various cellular activities, suggest the existence of possible specialized functions of this proteoglycan subspecies in cellular processes characteristic of vascular development and diseases.     

Structural studies on proteoglycan from human chondrosarcoma.

Proteoglycan was isolated from a human chondrosarcoma which contained all glycosaminoglycans found in articular cartilage. Proteoglycans extracted by associative (67% of total uronate) and subsequent dissociative (27% of total uronate) solvents were identical as assessed by chromatography on Sepharose 2B (K_av 0.43), electrophoresis on acrylamideagarose gels, and in their ability to bind to hyaluronate. In addition there were no differences in chondroitin sulfate size, ratio of chondroitin 4- to 6-sulfate, or in size or form of keratan sulfate present. Two forms of keratan sulfate were identified following treatment with alkaline borohydride: A larger species (～-23 monosaccharides) was isolated from the keratan sulfate-enriched region only; a smaller oligosaccharide (～-13 monosaccharides) was recovered from all peptidoglycans released by trypsin, chymotrypsin treatment.     

The nature of the non-ultrafilterable glycosaminoglycans of normal human urine

1. The non-ultrafilterable acidic glycosaminoglycans from pooled urine of normal men, aged about 20, were isolated and characterized. The isolation procedure included digestion with sialidase and pronase, and fractionation by stepwise elution from an ECTEOLA-cellulose column. The glycosaminoglycans in each fraction were separated from each other by preparative electrophoresis in sodium barbital buffer and in barium acetate. 2. Approximate relative amounts of the different glycosaminoglycans were: chondroitin sulphate 60%, chondroitin 2%, hyaluronic acid 4%, dermatan sulphate 1%, heparan sulphate 15% and keratan sulphate 18%. Chondroitin sulphate-dermatan sulphate hybrids seemed to occur in trace amounts. 3. Chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and keratan sulphate were heterogeneous with respect to degree of sulphation. Two distinct groups of chondroitin sulphate fractions were found, with sulphate/hexosamine molar ratios of about 0.5 and 1 respectively. The sulphate/hexosamine molar ratios in the heparan sulphate fractions varied from 0.5 to 0.9; the N-sulphate/hexosamine ratio was about 0.5 in all fractions. The sulphate/hexosamine molar ratios in the keratan sulphate fractions varied from 0.2 to 0.7.     

Glycosaminoglycans in the bronchial mucus of patients with chronic bronchitis and mucoid impaction of the bronchus

Glycosaminoglycans were isolated from mucus of patients with chronic bronchitis and mucoid impaction of the bronchus, whose contents were approximately 56 mumoles and 80 mumoles of hexosamine per g of dry weight of mucus respectively. Electrophoretic and chemical characterization and enzymatic susceptibility demonstrated that the glycosaminoglycans in mucus from both groups of the patients contained hyaluronic acid as the main constituent, with undersulphated chondroitin as a minor component. In addition, in mucus from the patient with mucoid impaction of the bronchus chondroitin sulphate and heparan sulphate or heparan sulphate-like substance were identified.     

A chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan from human cultured glial and glioma cells. Structural and functional properties.

A chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan capable of forming large aggregates with hyaluronic acid was identified in cultures of human glial and glioma cells. The glial- cell- and glioma-cell-derived products were mutually indistinguishable and had some basic properties in common with the analogous chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan of cartilage: hydrodynamic size, dependence on a minimal size of hyaluronic acid for recognition, stabilization of aggregates by link protein, and precipitability with antibodies raised against bovine cartilage chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan. However, they differed in some aspects: lower buoyant density, larger, but fewer, chondroitin sulphate side chains, presence of iduronic acid-containing repeating units, and absence (less than 1%) of keratan sulphate. Apparently the major difference between glial/glioma and cartilage chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans relates to the glycan rather than to the protein moiety of the molecule.     

Studies on the in vitro incubation procedure for [35S]sulphate labelling of articular cartilage glycosaminoglycans

Articular cartilage from cow and calf femoral condyles was incubated in Tyrodes solution containing [35S]sulphate for different periods up to 80 min. Glycosaminoglycans from the cartilage tissue and incubation medium were fractionated on Cetylpyridinium chloride and ECTEOLA cellulose microcolumns. The incorporation of [35S]sulphate into all individual fractions of chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate was found to be linear from 20 to 80 min incubation time. As a rule the total specific activities of keratan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate were similar for both calves and cows. The proteoglycan material recovered from the medium amounted to about 1% of the tissue dry weight and was found to have a higher chondroitin sulphate: keratan sulphate ratio than the corresponding cartilage tissue for both calf and cow. The solubility profiles for the newly synthesised glycosaminoglycans, obtained from determination of the radioactivity in the individual fractions, were compared with those of glycosaminoglycans already present. These curves indicated that newly synthesised chondroitin sulphate had a higher average molecular size than that present in the tissue whereas the newly synthesised keratan sulphate had a smaller average molecular size. These newly synthesised components were also detected in the proteoglycans recovered from the incubation medium.     

Characterization of newly synthesized proteoglycans from rabbit menisci in organ culture.

Rabbit menisci were incubated with Na2 35SO4 in short-term organ culture to label newly synthesized proteoglycans. The radioactive products present in both tissue and culture medium were characterized separately with respect to distribution after ultracentrifugation in CsCl isopycnic density gradients, hydrodynamic size, interaction with hyaluronic acid, and glycosaminoglycan composition (types, size and content). Analysis of proteoglycan size by gel-filtration chromatography of the most-dense CsCl fractions (A1) on Sephacryl S-500 (associative conditions) resolved three species. A peak with Kav. approx. 0.7 was present in each chromatogram, and constituted the principal component in tissue extracts. Two other peaks with Kav. values of approx. 0.2 and 0.45 were also found. When the A1 fraction from tissue was subjected to CsCl-density-gradient ultracentrifugation under dissociative conditions, 71% of the recovered radioactivity was present in the most dense (A1D1) fraction. Incubation with hyaluronic acid of either A1 or A1D1 fraction from associative extract did not alter the apparent size of the labelled product, indicating a lack of aggregate formation. Meniscal proteoglycans showed an unusual and marked tendency to adsorb irreversibly to agarose and agarose-containing gel-filtration-chromatography media. High-pressure liquid-chromatographic analyses indicated that the sulphated glycosaminoglycans consisted of chondroitin 6-sulphate (72%), chondroitin 4-sulphate (19%) and dermatan sulphate (5%). Endo-beta-galactosidase (keratanase) digestion of the material failed to detect the presence of keratan sulphate. Of the labelled glycosaminoglycans, 95% was eluted from Sephacryl S-400 as a single symmetrical peak with a Kav. of 0.5. The results of studies with tissue extracts and culture medium were similar.