Proteinpolysaccharide of Bovine Cartilage

Abstract

Abstract Proteinpolysaccharide can be extracted readily at 37° from bovine cartilage without destruction of the collagenous structure. The proteinpolysaccharide, regardless of the method of extraction, contains a variable ratio of chondroitin sulfate chains to protein as shown by preparative electrophoretic fractionation. More vigorous methods of extraction cause degradation of the proteinpolysaccharide and gel filtration distinguishes between single chains of chondroitin sulfate and multichain proteinpolysaccharide. Electrophoretic fractions which are richer in chondroitin sulfate chains show a corresponding increase in alkali-sensitive serine residues. These serines are not evenly distributed with respect to the core material. Other considerations make it unlikely that the sensitive serines are sequentially located in a core protein.