The dissolution and fractionation of bovine sclera

Abstract

• 1.

  1. A method for dissolving and fractionating bovine sclera has been described. High speed homogenization, utilizing double water extraction, separates out the protein-polysaccharide from the sclera. The residue is disolved with pepsin (EC 3.4.4.1) and trypsin (EC 3.4.4.4) and fractionated by dialysis and cold alcohol precipitation.

• 2.

  2. Chondroitin sulfates A, B and C are found as protein-polysaccharide complexes in bovine sclera. No keratosulfate was found in the tissue.

• 3.

  3. No N-acetyl neuraminic acid is present in bovine sclera.

• 4.

  4. Comparison of the fractions of the bovine sclera and bovine nasal cartilage reveals that the tissues are different in composition and structure.