Comparison of the glycosaminoglycans isolated from the skin and head cartilage of Gould's arrow squid (Nototodarus gouldi)

The glycosaminoglycans from the skin and head cartilage of the squid Nototo darus gouldi have been isolated and characterised by constituent disacchari de and neutral sugar analysis, C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectr oscopy, anion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The glycosaminogl ycans from both tissues are chondroitin sulphate species. The skin consists principally of unsulphated but relatively highly glycosylated material. Th e chondroitin sulphate from the head cartilage is more highly sulphated, pr edominantly C-4,6diS (chondroitin sulphate E), with a higher molecular weig ht than the skin derived material but somewhat less highly glycosylated. To provide a standard for the assignment of the C-13 NMR spectrum, C-4,6diS w as chemically prepared from bovine tracheal chondroitin sulphate. This show ed that it is not possible to distinguish between a mixture of the monosulp hates, C-4S and C-6S, and the C-4,6diS by one-dimensional and simple two-di mensional C-13 NMR techniques. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.