Characterization and interactions of a fragment of the core protein of the small proteoglycan (PGII) from bovine tendon

Sequence analysis showed that Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease cleaved the core protein of the small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan of bovine tendon (PGII) on the carboxy side of a glutamic acid residue located 17 amino acids from the N-terminus of the intact molecule. The remaining 40 kDa core protein fragment inhibited collagen fibrillogenesis in an in vitro assay. V8 protease readily generated this fragment in tendon tissue, but it was not released from the tissue during treatment. These results indicate that neither the 17-amino acid N-terminal peptide nor the glycosaminoglycan chain attached to this peptide is required for maintaining the interaction of this proteoglycan with a collagen matrix.