Comparisonof Sulfationof Glycosaminoglycansand Glycopeptidesfrom Controland Virus-transformedBaby HamsterKidneyCells1

Sulfation of glycosaminoglycans and giycopeptides was com pared in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells and the polyoma virus transformants (PY-BHK). Cells were incubated with | fH ]glucosamine and pSJsulfate, and the labeled glycosaminoglycans and giycopeptides were isolated by digesting the cell membrane fraction with pronase followed by gel filtration. Each type of giycosammoglycan in the void volume fraction (Fraction I) and in the included fraction (Fraction II) was determined by sequential enzymatic digestions. The residue was regarded as being glycopeptkJes. Of the total 3H radioactivities of glycosaminoglycans in Fraction I from BHK cells, 51% were in dermatan sulfate, 23% were in heparan sulfate, 17% were in chondroitin 4and 6-sulfates, and 9% were in hyaluronate. PY-BHK cells acquired significantly larger amounts of 3H radioactivities in sulfated glycosaminogly cans than did BHK cells on the basis of cell number. On the basis of protein content, there was no such difference due to higher protein content of PY-BHK cells. The degree of sulfation of the glycosaminoglycans, estimated from the ratio of ^S to 3H and by disaccharide analysis, was significantly lower in PY-BHK cells than in BHK cells. Considerable amounts of 35Sradioactiv ities assigned to sulfated giycopeptides were found in Fraction II from both BHK and PY-BHK cells.