Characteristics and localization of rat submandibular gland proteoglycans

The submandibular gland proteoglycans were investigated biochemically and immunohistochemically in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Proteoglycans were extracted with 4 M guanidine-HCI, followed by ultracentrifugation in a CsCl density gradient, and fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The molecular weight of PGs was estimated by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis with monoclonal antibodies (HepSS-1 or 6-B-6). The glycosaminoglycan side-chains in the proteoglycan fractions were identified by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane. Three proteoglycan fractions were obtained. One was a heparan sulphate proteoglycan that migrated as a diffuse band of about 210 kDa. The other two fractions contained at least two dermatan sulphate proteoglycans of 70–85 kDa and 40–50 kDa. Digestion of these two proteoglycans with chondroitinase ABC, but not heparitinase, produced two bands of 50 and 21 kDa, which were core proteins. The smaller dermatan sulphate proteoglycan may be a portion of the other, as the core protein of both bound to 6-B-6 antibody, and sugar chains of both were the same (20–30 kDa). Heparan sulphates recognized by antibody FlepSS-1 were observed widely in the basement membrane, fibrous connective tissue, and striated and excretory ductal cells, while dermatan sulphate proteoglycans recognized by antibody 6-B-6 were located in the connective tissue surrounding striated and excretory ducts.