Detection of a small proteoglycan present in xiphoid cartilage regions submitted to different biomechanical forces

ABSTRACT

1. The effect of biomechanical forces on larges proteglycans and collagen of cartilage has deserved intensive study, enhacing the importance of these molecules to support a better distribution of compressive forces especially in articular cartilage. In the present study, other extracellular matrix components, non-collagenous proteins and small proteglycans, have been evaluated in terms of biomechanical tension. 2. Different parts of chicken xiphoid cartilage, lateral (R and L) and central (C) portions, which bear different biomechanical tensions, were analyzed. DEAE-cellulose chromatography profiles were similar for R and L portions. SDS-PAGE analyses revealed proteins of 29, 60 and 70 KDa for R and L. The 20-and 70-KDa proteins were not detected in the C portion while the 60-KDaprotein was presented at a high level. 3. The differences found between lateral (R and L) and central portions of the xiphoid cartilage may be related to the struycture of the cartilage which bears higher tension forces than the lateral parts