Identification of an extended N-acetylated sequence adjacent to the protein-linkage region of fibroblast heparan sulphate.

The distribution of N-sulphate groups within fibroblast heparan sulphate chains was investigated. The detergent-extractable heparan sulphate proteoglycan from adult human skin fibroblasts, radiolabelled with [3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulphate, was coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. After partial depolymerization of the heparan sulphate with nitrous acid, the remaining Sepharose-bound fragments were removed by treatment with alkali. These fragments, of various sizes, but all containing an intact reducing xylose residue, were fractionated on Sephacryl S-300 and the distribution of the 3H and 35S radiolabels was analysed. A decreased degree of sulphation was observed towards the reducing termini of the chains. After complete nitrous acid hydrolysis of the Sepharose-bound proteoglycan, analysis of the proximity of N-sulphation to the reducing end revealed the existence of an extended N-acetylated sequence directly adjacent to the protein-linkage sequence. The size of this N-acetylated domain was estimated by gel filtration to be approximately eight disaccharide units. This domain appears to be highly conserved, being present in virtually all the chains derived from this proteoglycan, implying the existence of a mechanism capable of generating such a non-random sequence during the post-polymeric modification of heparan sulphate. Comparison with the corresponding situation in heparin suggests that different mechanisms regulate polymer N-sulphation in the vicinity of the protein-linkage region of these chemically related glycosaminoglycans.