| Purified cartilage proteoglycans bind specifically to
hyaluronate to form high-molecular weight aggregates in which many
proteoglycans are bound to each hyaluronate chain. The proteoglycans
bind by a specific
site at one end of the protein backbone that is largely devoid of
glycosaminoglycan chain(HA-binding region) and has a high affinity
for a decasaccharide
unit of hyaluronate 1,2).
The link protein 3) is an integral part of the aggregate structure
and has been proposed to form additional bonds, by bridging the proteglycan
molecule and the hyaluronate chain, thereby increasing the strength of binding
and giving a more stable aggregate structure(ternary complex). 4,5) Purification
of hyaluronic acid binding protein (HABP) from bovine nasal cartilage was performed
in accordance with the modified method of E Laurent et al.4) |
HABP:Hyaluronic
Acid Binding Protein
