The nature of collagen-chondroitin sulphate linkages in tendon

Abstract

Shrinkage temperature curves in CaCl of native rat-tail tendon, hyaluronidase-treated tendon, salt-precipitated and chondroitin sulphate-precipitated collagen were determined before and after treatment with hyaluronidase, with beta-naphthalenesulfonic acid and with periodic acid. Chondroitin sulfate was found to play a part in the stabilization of tendon. It is suggested that a quarter of the stabilizing linkages are between chondroitin sulfate and collagen, consisting of 40% salt-like links and 60% H2 bonds. Some other muco-polysaccharide or mucoprotein may also be concerned in this stabilization. Salt-precipitated collagen is similar to fish skin in being stabilized mainly by salt-like cross-links.