Two major non-collagenous glycoproteins in embryonic chick arteries

Glycoprotein-containing extracts were obtained from thoracic arteries of embryonic chicks by sequential treatment involving 6 M guanidinium chloride, purified bacterial collagenase, and 6 M guanidinium chloride plus 50 mM dithiothreitol. Two major glycopolypeptides, designated G1 and G2, having apparent mol. wts. of 140,000 and 130,000 respectively were detected by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation demonstrated G1 and G2 to be glycoproteins and not proteoglycans or glycosaminoglycans. Amino acid analysis of a glycoprotein-enriched fraction confirmed the non-collagenous nature of G1 and G2. The highly insoluble nature of these glycoproteins suggests that these species are intimately associated with the extracellular matrix. Glycoproteins of similar size were also extracted from wing tendons indicating that G1 and G2 may be common to the elastic tissues of the chick.