ROLE OF PROTEIN-COMPONENTS OF PROTEOGLYCANS IN STERIC EXCLUSION OF CELLS

Polymers differing in the content of their protein components have bee n obtained from hyaluronic acid (HUA), naturally occurring protein-cho ndroitin-keratan sulfate (PCKS) complexes, and proteoglycan aggregates (PA). Using suspensions of rabbit erythrocytes in salt solution as an experimental model of,isolated cells, it is shown that the activity o f proteoglycans as factors of steric erythrocyte exclusion to a separa te phase depends on the percentage content of protein components in th e polymers. The ability of HUA- and PA-derived polymers to effect ster ic exclusion increases with an increase in the content of their protei n component.