Cell‐Associated Glycosaiminoglycans of Human Teratocarcinoma‐Derived Cells of Line PA 1

Human teratocarcinoma‐derived cells of line PA 1, which are capable of differentiating in vitro [Zeuthen, J. et al. (1980) Int. J. Cancer , 25, 19–32], incorporate label from radioactive sulfate and/or glucosamine into several large‐sized glycosaminoglycans including hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate co‐polymers, heparan sulfate and keratan‐sulfate‐like molecules. All these polysaccharide fractions were identified by specific degradation methods. The labeled hyaluronate was degraded into a mixture of unsaturated octa‐, hexa‐ and tetra‐ saccharides by a treatment with Strrptomyces hyaluronidase (EC 4.2.2.1). The chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate co‐polymers were cleaved with chondroitin AC lyase (EC 4.2.2.5) into unsaturated disaccharides and a series of unsaturated oligosaccharides; the latter were degraded by a treatment with chondroitin ABC lyase (EC 4.2.2.4) into unsaturated disaccharides. Heparan sulfate was degraded with nitrous acid into free inorganic [ 35 S]sulfate and a series of [ 35 S]sulfate‐labeled oligosaccharides and/or glycopeptides. The keratan‐sulfate‐like molecules were hydrolyzed by a treatment with endo‐β‐galactosidase from Escherichiafieundii into a series of distinct [ 35 S]sulfate‐labeled oligosaccharides; small oligosaccharides were liberated also from [ 3 H]galactose‐labeled molecules. The smallest one of the liberated oligosaccharides was tentatively identified as a sulfated disaccharide.