Glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins associated with rat brain nuclei

The concentration, composition and sulfate labeling of glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins have been studied in purified nuclei isolated in bulk from rat brain. The concentration of total glycosaminoglycans is 0.142 mumol hexosamine/100 mg protein, comprising 57% chondroitin 4-sulfate, 7% chondroitin 6-sulfate, 29% hyaluronic acid and 7% heparan sulfate. Control experiments demonstrated that less than 5% of the sulfated glycosaminoglycans associated with nuclei could be accounted for by the nonspecific adsorption of soluble acidic proteoglycans to basic nuclear proteins. Glycoprotein carbohydrate is present at a level of 206 mug/100 mg protein, and has an average composition of 30% N-acetylglucosamine, 29% mannose, 19% N-acetylneuraminic acid, 15% galactose, 4% N-acetylgalactosamine, and 3% fucose. Labeling studies also indicated the presence of ester sulfate residues on the glycoprotein oligosaccharides.