FIBROUS-LONG SPACING FIBER FORMATION BY COLLAGEN AND NONCOLLAGENOUS ACIDIC COMPONENTS FROM CALF SKIN

Fibrous-long spacing (FLS) fibers were reconstituted in the supernatan t fraction after disaggregation of calf insoluble collagen fibers. Mac romolecular components of the fibers were biochemically analyzed. Amin o acid analysis demonstrated that the major component of FLS was colla gen consisting of types I and III collagen in the relative percentage of 92 and 8% respectively. Hyaluronic acid acid dermatan sulfate were the major components of glycosaminoglycans present in the ratio of 1:2 . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed several minor non -collagenous proteins which were not derived from serum components. Th e results suggest that non-collagenous components including glycosamin oglycans, are involved in the formation of FLS.