Acidic glycosaminoglycans in human platelets and leukocytes: the isolation and enzymatic characterization of chondroitin 4-sulfate

The acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAG) in human platelets and leukocytes were studied by enzymatic digestion with chondroitinase and streptomyces hyaluronidase combined with electrophoretic separation on cellulose acetate membranes and partly with gel filtration on Sephadex G-100.Electrophoretic characterization and enzymatic susceptibility indicated that the main AGAG in human platelets and leukocytes are chondroitin sulfates. The occurrence of the unsaturated 4-sulfated disaccharide on paper chromatography only after digestion of the AGAG with chondroitinase-AC indicated that intracellular chondroitin sulfate in human platelets and leukocytes is present exclusively as chondroitin 4-sulfate.It is also suggested that hyaluronic acid exists in small amounts both in platelets and leukocytes, whereas heparan sulfates are present only in leukocytes, possibly as a membranous component.