Characterisation of the major CNBr-Derived peptides of porcine type II collagen.

As part of a general study on the matrix macromolecules of pig cartilage, the CNBr-derived peptides of porcine type II collagen have been isolated from laryngeal cartilage and characterized. Type II was the only molecular type of collagen detected in laryngeal cartilage from 6-9 month old pigs. The major CNBr-peptides of this collagen were prepared by ion exchange and molecular sieve chromatography and characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis and amino acid analysis. Six peptides were recovered in high yield and were shown to be closely homologous to similar peptides previously recovered from bovine and human type II collagens. The largest peptide alpha1(II)CB10 appeared by SDS-disc electrophoresis to be slightly larger than previously reported. The amino acid composition of alpha1(II)CB10 supported this finding of a higher molecular weight.