Glycosaminoglycans in brush border membranes from rabbit small intestine

A brush border membrane fraction was prepared from mucosae of rabbit small intestine by differential centrifugation. The membrane fraction was digested with pronase and a glycosaminoglycan fraction was isolated from the digest by fractionation with cetylpyridinium chloride. Individual glycosaminoglycans were quantitated by specific mucopolysaccharide-degrading enzymes and nitrous acid. The glycosaminoglycan composition was then calculated to be as follows: Hyaluronic acid, 34%; chondroitin sulfate A/C, 16%; dermatan sulfate, 11%; heparan sulfate, 39%.