# PROTEOGLYCAN STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND METABOLISM

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $117,088

## Abstract

Proteoglycans are ubiquitous components of connective tissues.  They often
occur as major components of the extra-cellular matrix of these tissues.
Cartilage proteoglycans have been the most thoroughly studied and they have
served as a useful model for examining proteoglycan structure and function
in other more complex connective tissue matrices.  Detailed analysis of
proteoglycan structure by conventional biochemical procedures has been
complicated by the inherent heterogeneity and polydisperisty of the
proteoglycans themselves.  Immunological methods offer the possibililty of
raising antibodies which specifically recognize different antigenic
determinants present on proteoglycans and link protein.  The recent
introduction of monoclonal antibody procedures has offered the possiblity
of producing antibodies which specifically recognize structural and
functional antigenic determinants on biological macromolecules.  In this
proposal we plan to produce and characterize monoclonl antibodies that
recognize specific determinants on proteoglycan and link protein.  The
specificity of the antibodies will be determined using biochemical methods,
and in immunoassay procedures.  Specific antibodies will be applied to
problems of quantitating, identifying, purifying and determining the tissue
distribution of proteoglycan and link protein.  Both immunochemical studies
on isolated material and immunohistochemical procedures will be employed.
A major objective of this proposal is to use specific monoclonal antibodies
as a means of characterizing and purifying peptide fragments of link
protein and proteoglycan.  These peptides will be used in the determination
of the amino acid sequences (primary structure) of link protein and
lproteoglycan.  In addition, antibodies recognizing functional aspects of
proteoglycan and link protein interactions will be used instudies
determining structure function relationships involved in proteoglycan
aggregate formation.  A longer term objective is to extend these studies to
gain a better understanding of proteoglycan metabolism in other more
complex connective tissues.  These studies will increase our knowledge of
connective tissue function in normal conditions and in disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156373
- **Project number:** 5R01AR032666-06
- **Recipient organization:** WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M7PNRH24BBM8
- **Principal Investigator:** BRUCE CATERSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $117,088
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-09-01 → 1989-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156373

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156373, PROTEOGLYCAN STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND METABOLISM (5R01AR032666-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156373. Licensed CC0.

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