Studies on the affinity of hyaluronic acid binding protein to glycosaminoglycans

The affinity of hyaluronic acid binding protein (HBP) to different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) was examined. The purified protein was pretreated with hyaluronic acid (HA), heparin, glucuronic acid and N-Acetyl-glucosamine and was loaded onto Hyaluronate-Sepharose affinity column. The binding of HBP to HA immobilized on sepharose column was specifically blocked only by pretreatment of HBP to HA and the elution of HBP was decreased proportionately with the addition of higher quantity of HBP. The specificity of HBP to HA was confirmed as it did not bind to Heparin-Sepharose or Chondroitin-4-Sulphate-Sepharose columns. The complex of HBP in association with HA was further shown on Sephadex G-200 and 7.5% polyacrylamide gel. All the experimental findings indicate that HBP binds specifically to HA only.