Characterization and biosynthesis of proteoglycans of corneal stroma from rhesus monkey.

The proteoglycans of the Rhesus monkey corneal stroma were characterized by analyzing both radiolabeled proteoglycans synthesized by corneas in organ culture and native corneal proteoglycans obtained by large scale preparations. The analyses indicate that the proteoglycans synthesized in organ culture were similar to, if not identical with, their counterparts in the stroma although they are synthesized in different prportions in vitro than they acumulate in vivo. The corneal stroma contains two proteoglycans. The chondroitin-dermatan sulfate proteoglycan consists of approximately 70% protein and has a Mr = approximately 100,000 to 150,000. It contains one chondroitin-dermatan sulfate side chain of Mr = approximately 55,000. The keratan sulfate proteoglycan consists of approximately 74% protein and has a Mr = approximately -40,000 to 70,000. It contains one or two keratan sulfate side chains with a Mr = approximately 7,000 each. Radiolabeling indicates that both proteoglycans contain glycoprotein-type oligosaccharides as part of their structure.