Enzymatic studies of chondroitin sulphates in human arterial tissue

Abstract

• (1)

  Isomeric chondroitin sulphates of human arterial tissues were analysed by enzymatic methods with chondroitinases and sulphatases.

• (2)

  The enzymatic methods furnished a linear relation between the amount of arterial tissue sample and the yield of chondroitin sulphate isomers.

• (3)

  The present data showed that chondroitin sulphate C is a major component in arterial tissue, followed by chondroitin sulphate B as a lesser component. Evidence is presented for the presence of chondroitin sulphate A in approximately equal amount to chondroitin sulphate B. This finding was supported by chromatographic separation of the degraded products of chondroitin sulphate isomers with chondroitinases.