Characterization of the proteoglycans synthesized by rabbit testis in response to infection by Treponema pallidum

Abstract

Organ cultures of syphilitic and normal rabbit testes were incubated with 35S-sulfate for labeling of proteoglycans. Syphilitic rabbit testes synthesized three macromolecular fractions (I, II, and III) which were not detected in extracts of normal uninfected tissue. The three fractions comprised a larger (~106 mol wt) chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan (Fraction I), a smaller (~105 mol wt) chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan (Fraction II), and a putative sulfated glycoprotein of M(r) 40 kd (Fraction III). The glycosaminoglycan chains of both proteoglycans eluted with a K(av) of 0.45 on Sepharose CL-6B, consistent with a molecular weight of 25,000. The smaller pro..