Fibroblast-Derived J 1 Adhesion Glycoproteins Show Binding Properties to Extracellular Matrix Constituents Different from Those of Central Nervous System Origin

The J1 extracellular adhesion molecule from mouse brain consists of several immunochemically related glycoproteins of different molecular weights and distinct functional properties. Like the brain J1 glycoproteins, the fibroblast-derived J1 glycoproteins interact with all collagen types tested (collagen G and types I-IV and IX), as measured by binding of 125I-labeled J1 glycoproteins to immobilized collagens. As tested for collagen type I, this binding can be inhibited more effectively by chondroitin sulfate than by heparin. After electrophoretic separation and transfer to nitrocellulose, fibroblast-derived J1 only binds to a limited number of collagen types (collagen types I, VI, and IX and G), whereas brain-derived J1 glycoproteins bind to all collagen types tested (collagen types I-VI and IX and G). These results show that fibroblast-derived J1 glycoproteins, although immunochemically related to J1 glycoproteins from brain, differ from these in their binding specificities to extracellular matrix constituents.