Association between collagen and glycosaminoglycans is altered in dermal extracellular matrix of fetal Steel (Sld/Sld) mice

Altered extracellular matrix produced by Steel mutant fetuses affects the pigmentation of neural crest cells in vitro (K. Morrison-Graham, L. West-Johnsrud, and J.A. Weston, 1990, Dev. Biol. 139). Here, we demonstrate that collagen bundle morphology and hyaluronidase sensitivity of the glycosaminoglycans associated with the collagen fibrils differ between normal and mutant dermis. Although no differences were detected in the amounts of collagen or glycosaminoglycans produced in vitro or present in vivo, hyaluronic acid was more readily extracted from Sld/Sld than from normal skin. We suggest that the Steel mutation alters the organization of collagen bundles and associated hyaluronic acid within the extracellular matrix.