Apparent sulfation of glycosaminoglycans by ascorbic acid 2-[3 5-S] sulfate: an explanation.

The sulfation of glycosaminoglycans by ascorbic acid 2-[35S]sulfate was studied in costal cartilage and chondrocytes in vitro. Negligable (if any) sulfation of glycosaminoglycans was detected with immediately isolated ascorbic acid 2-[35S]sulfate. However, formation of [35S]glycosaminoglycans was readily detected with ascorbic acid 2-[35S]sulfate which had been stored at minus 20 degrees C for several days. The [35S]glycosaminoglycans did not result from the direct transfer of 35S from ascorbic acid 2-sulfate but rather from a decomposition product of ascorbic acid 2-[35S]sulfate. Evidence is presented to show that the sulfation pathway with the decomposition product involves exchange with inorganic sulfate, and strongly suggests that sulfation proceeds via 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate. The decomposition product appears similar to inorganic sulfate in several test systems. In view of these observations, it is suggested that previous conclusions implicating as acid 2-sulfate as a biological sulfate donor, based on the use of ascorbic acid 2-[35S]sulfate be re-evaluated.