# BIOSYNTHESIS OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROTEOGLYCANS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 1987 · $96,630

## Abstract

The intrevertebral disc is a unique joint responsible for the flexibility
and cushioning properties of the vertebrate spine.  Clinically, low back
pain is one of the leading causes of work-related disability and over 80%
of the population will at some time have back pain.  The biology of the
intervertebral disc is important to the understanding of spine biomechanics
as well as processes such as aging, degeneration and mechanisms for pain
production and its potential relief or prevention.  The intervertebral
disc, an avascular structure, consists of an annulus fibrosis and a nucleus
pulposis, each containing specialized, highly organized collagen networks
intermeshed with matrix glycoproteins and proteoglycans.  This proposal
deals with the characterization of the proteoglycan component with respect
to the nature of the molecules present in the tissue as compared to those
originally synthesized with special reference to the assembly and movement
of aggregate structures through the matrix, the stochiometry of assembly
and synthesis, their structure with respect to carbohydrate components and
their potential maturation by a post-ribosomal modification.  This work
will be done in vivo using a rabbit model system and in vitro in both the
rabbit and human system.  The overall goal is to define the interactions
between proteoglycans and other matrix components as related to the ability
of cells to continue to express and preserve a functional matrix.  This
will include characterization of both human and rabbit nucleus and annulus
proteoglycans using radioactive precursors for the carbohydrate and
proteins, and hetero- and homofunctional crosslinking agents to map contact
areas between link protein, hyaluronic acid and proteoglycan.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155539
- **Project number:** 5R01AR027262-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KABJZBBJ4B54
- **Principal Investigator:** Theodore Richard Oegema
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $96,630
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-08-01 → 1988-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155539

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155539, BIOSYNTHESIS OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROTEOGLYCANS (5R01AR027262-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155539. Licensed CC0.

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