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Ultrastructure of Skeletal Tissues pp 111–127Cite as

Ultrastructural cytochemistry of cartilage proteoglycans and their relation to the calcification process

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Part of the book series: Electron Microscopy in Biology and Medicine ((EMBM,volume 7))

Abstract

Proteoglycans (PGs) occur in virtually almost all mammalian tissues and are especially prominent in cartilage. They are characterized by their core proteins and have at least one covalently bound glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain. These macromolecules and type II collagen are major components of the extracellular matrix of cartilage, where the former exists predominantly as aggregates, resulting from the specific interaction of PG monomers and hyaluronate. This interaction is stabilized by oligosaccharide-containing link proteins. The monomers consist of a core protein, to which are attached a large number of chondroitin sulfate chains, keratan sulfate chains, and both O-linked and N-linked oligosaccharides (Figs. 6-1–6-3).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Nihon University School of Dentistry, 1-8-13 Kanda-Surugadai Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 101, Japan

    Dr. Minoru Takagi (Associate Professor)

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  1. Dr. Minoru Takagi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biopathology, Faculty of Medicine, University “La Sapienza” of Rome, Italy

    E. Bonucci M.D.

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University “La Sapienza” of Rome, Italy

    P. M. Motta M.D., Ph.D.

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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Takagi, M. (1990). Ultrastructural cytochemistry of cartilage proteoglycans and their relation to the calcification process. In: Bonucci, E., Motta, P.M. (eds) Ultrastructure of Skeletal Tissues. Electron Microscopy in Biology and Medicine, vol 7. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1487-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1487-5_6

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