The Sulfation of Chondroitin Sulfate in Embryonic Chick Cartilage Epiphyses

Abstract

Abstract With the use of purified chondroitinase of Proteus vulgaris, a method has been devised for the determination of relative amounts of chondroitin, chondroitin-4-SO4, and chondroitin-6-SO4 in cartilage. This method was applied to the analysis of embryonic chick epiphyseal cartilage. With 35SO4 and 14C-acetate it was possible to study the relationship of embryo age to rate of formation of chondroitin, chondroitin-4-SO4, and chondroitin-6-SO4. Between 10 and 19 days there is a progressive decrease in synthesis of chondroitin and chondroitin-4-SO4 and a progressive increase in synthesis of chondroitin-6-SO4.